A new pavilion for okapis was attached to the Bongo antelope pavilion in 2004. The new 35 sq. m. stables can house up to 3 okapi couples.
After many years of great efforts, the Dvur Kralove Zoo became the 13th zoological garden in Europe and 35th zoo worldwide to keep okapis. (For a better picture, as to June 1, 2008, there were 54 okapis kept in 17 institutions in Europe and 140 okapis lived worldwide away from their natural environment. 87 okapis are kept in 25 institutions in North America and Japan).
Constant temperature of 21oC and constant humidity of approximately 70% is maintained in the pavilion. Okapis are highly sensitive to any changes of living conditions and manipulation and therefore need to be treated with great care. They cannot be tranquillised for veterinary check-ups, taking of blood samples etc., because narcosis is extremely risky for them. That is why the animals must get used to physical contact with humans. The animals also need to get used to a certain noise level so that living in the pavilion is not too stressful for them. When they are resting in the pavilion, the keepers leave the radio on and communicate with them as much as possible.
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