A milestone of sorts in the growth of our young female okapi: she’s topped 100 pounds! Actually, she came in at a very respectable 111.21 pounds (50.55 kilograms). As I mentioned in an earlier post (Sukari the Okapi at 10 Days), the first weight we took on her at 2 days of age was 57.8 pounds (26.2 kilograms), and we expected her to triple her birth weight in 8 weeks. She is well on her way to reaching that goal.

All of us working with Sukari are spending time with her at least twice a day, desensitizing her to being touched and generally increasing her comfort level around us. This process will result in our being able to conduct some medical procedures or exams without the need to anesthetize her.

Today, for example, we put mom Safarani in a stall adjoining the maternity yard and gently coaxed Sukari down the barn hallway leading to the exhibit. At the midway point in the hallway is a structure about 8 feet (2.4 meters) high and 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide that has 12 padded doors, 6 on each side. Each of these doors are configured to open separately, giving us access to a specific part of the animal: head, torso, or legs/hooves. One side wall can be slid into position to prevent too much movement from side to side. Incorporated into the floor is a motionless scale, which is what we used today to weigh her. It’s a lot easier to get her to stand still than to pick up over 100 pounds of animal that doesn’t necessarily want to be picked up!

Later this week we’ll start halter training. Typically we’ll rub the halter on the mom, then let the youngster smell it. This is followed by gently sliding the muzzle portion over the nose but not yet attaching it behind the neck. We’ll do this a couple of times a day until her comfort level indicates that we can buckle it. We’ll then leave it in place for a few minutes, increasing the time it’s on to a half hour or so. At the end of halter training, we will be able to easily lead her into a trailer or hold her in place when the veterinarians or nutritionists need to have a look at her.

No firm date has been set yet for Sukari’s first venture out into the exhibit, although it will likely take place in the next two or three weeks. I’ll be sure to make that information available via a post for those of you interested in watching her explore her new surroundings.

John Michel is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.

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