In a jungle in the Congo 
There lived the strangest beast 
He was called the Zebra-giraffe 
For the eyes he was a treat! 

He fed on grass and fruits and buds
And sometimes stems and leaves 
He was quite a vegetarian 
Keeping our planet green 

But Zebra-giraffe was upset 
Everyone had names of their own
While his was borrowed from  
Two cousins living far from home

So off he went on an adventure
To search for his true name 
He met the wise little pygmies
And told them of his aim 

They looked at him in wonder
And ooh’d and ahh’d away 
They’d never seen an animal 
Quite like him before today 

They praised his half-striped body
And admired his velvet fur 
They touched his lovely ossicones
They caused quite a stir! 

Then they had a meeting  
And decided finally 
This curious mix of animals 
Would  be called the Okapi 

So back he went to his jungle 
The happiest boy of all 
The Okapi finally had his name 
And that’s still what he is called.