Several okapi facts make this herbivore interesting. They eat tree/bush buds and leaves, various grasses, fruit, ferns or other smaller plants and even fungi; many of which, though loved by the okapi are quite poisonous to humans. The okapis were known by the Egyptian that has been depicted by carved images of the animal when it was as a gift from the Ethiopians to the Achaemenid kingdom. Europeans in Africa who heard of this animal called it the African unicorn.The okapi is native to the Ituri Rainforest, located in central Africa. Though it bears markings on its hind legs that bring the zebra to mind, okapi facts place it more closely related to the giraffe. Virtually, unknown until 1901, there are more than 10,000 in existence and 40 displayed to the public worldwide.