This animal looks like a walking puzzle. His legs look like they belong to a zebra. But he has a giraffe-like face and a long, prehensile tongue. That means he can grab food by wrapping his tongue around it, just like a giraffe. Which is he—giraffe or zebra? He’s neither! He’s an okapi.

Okapi live in the African rainforest. Humans have a hard time finding okapi in the wild. In fact, scientists didn’t even know about the animals until the year 1900! That might be because okapi are very shy. They have excellent hearing. They run from unknown sounds. That includes sounds made by nosy scientists with cameras! But now people can come to the San Francisco zoo to get a glimpse of a little okapi named Amaranta. He is a sight to see!

Do you know how animals get to the zoo? First, a zookeeper walks up to a pet store counter. He says, “I’d like three African elephants and twelve cobras, please.” Just kidding! No pet store has elephants hiding in the back room. Zoos don’t usually go nab creatures from the wild, either—unless the creatures are endangered. Endangered creatures can reproduce in safety in zoos. Often, their offspring are released into the wild.

Sometimes zoos act as animal matchmakers. If one zoo has an animal that needs to breed, they might find a mate in another zoo. Usually no money is exchanged for the animals.

You don’t have to feel bad about going to the zoo. The animals are there for you to see. Zoos can keep animals safe. Tigers in the wild usually live for 8 to 12 years. In zoos, they live into their late teens and longer. Zoo animals get plenty of food. Veterinarians watch over them. Predators don’t attack. Best of all, zoos help whole species of animals survive!