Okapi Conservation Project Information

The mission of the Okapi Conservation Project is to conserve the okapi in the wild while preserving the biological and cultural dynamics of the Ituri Forest. The okapi is an endemic species of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is the national conservation symbol of the country. As a flagship species, the okapi serves as an ambassador representing the incredible diversity of species found in the region. The objective of the Okapi Conservation Project is to protect the natural forest systems of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve by supporting and equipping government wildlife rangers; providing training and infrastructure development to improve protection of wildlife and habitats; assisting and educating communities to create an understanding of sustainable resource conservation; and by promoting alternative agricultural practices and food production in support of community livelihoods. The 100 staff members of the OCP and the 110 government rangers under the direction of ICCN depend upon outside funding to do their important work. These brave and dedicated individuals work tirelessly in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions to ensure the survival of the okapi in the wild and engage local communities in the sustainable use of natural resources. The OCP is committed to raising funds to support the remarkable people working to conserve the okapi and its tropical forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Okapi Conservation project is managed by White Oak Conservation Center, Inc. (WOCC) a not-for-profit organization founded in 2001 to conserve threatened species through the support of training, research, education, community outreach and protection. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, foundations and partner organizations WOCC has raised over $15M since its inception for wildlife conservation.