The okapi is a member of the giraffe family that lives in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa, and is characterized by the black and white stripes on its hind legs that resemble those of a zebra. It uses its long tongue to eat leaves and branches. They are extremely wary and their existence has been shrouded in mystery for a long time, which is why they are also called ``the ghosts of the forest.''