Kisala

Kisala was born on 2 September 2019 and arrived at Rainforest Wild Adventure WEST from Antwerp Zoo. Like many okapis, she was initially cautious during transport and took time to settle into unfamiliar surroundings.

During keeper training sessions in Antwerp, however, she gradually became comfortable with close interaction and husbandry work. Within a few weeks, she was calmly allowing tactile desensitisation around sensitive areas such as the underbelly — a level of trust that surprised even her experienced care team. At one point, she also licked her keeper’s face twice in a row!

Kisala’s darker facial markings give her a more serious appearance than her temperament might suggest. Around unfamiliar people, she tends to remain reserved and observant, often taking time before approaching. Enrichment, however, changes the situation considerably.

She is frequently among the first to investigate puzzle feeders and browse items, using her long prehensile tongue with remarkable precision to strip leaves and manipulate objects. Hibiscus browse remains a particular favourite. As with many okapis, she appears perfectly content spending much of her time independently — though curiosity occasionally overrides caution.

Mandai Wildlife Reserve is the first zoological institution in Southeast Asia to showcase okapis, offering guests a rare opportunity to observe this elusive rainforest species up close.

Kisala currently participates in positive reinforcement training sessions that support future ultrasound procedures and reproductive management as part of long-term breeding plans. Progress is intentionally gradual, with trust and familiarity built over repeated calm sessions. 

Okapis are classified as Endangered by the IUCN, with populations declining due to habitat loss and poaching in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2025, we partnered with Wildlife Conservation Global to support the Okapi Conservation Project, which works to protect okapis and their rainforest habitats through field conservation, community engagement, and anti-poaching efforts.

Remarkably, the okapi remained unknown to Western science until 1901 despite being one of the largest mammals in the African rainforest. Today, it remains one of the world’s most elusive and threatened large forest animals.