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 ferns and leaves 
He was a fabulous vegetarian 
Keeping our planet green 

But Zebra-giraffe was nettled 
Everyone was named properly 
While his was borrowed from  
Two of his extended family. 

So off he went on a quest 
To search for his true name 
He met the Congolese 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 wondrous 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’s called.