Teeny Tiny Duiker Is Best Friends With Massive Okapi And The Footage Is Simply Precious

In the San Diego Zoo, compatible animals often live together within exhibits. This offers patrons a realistic look at the conditions the animals experience in the wild, and the pairings can also contribute to unusual friendships. Such is the case with a tiny duiker whose best friend is a large okapi.

Videos by InspireMore

The tiny duiker is an antelope family member. These small—to medium-sized animals are found in sub-Saharan Africa. The name means “diver” or “diving buck” in Afrikaans/Dutch, referring to their habit of diving into shrubbery. The little critters are opportunists who follow birds and primates to eat dropped fruit. Unlike most species, the females are larger than the males, but both have horns. Another unique trait is that duikers don’t flee when they sense danger, like most antelopes. When danger is near, a duiker will freeze and stand still to avoid detection.

Many people think that the okapi is a relative of the zebra because of its distinctly striped legs. The okapi is not related to zebras but is the giraffe’s only living relative. There is some resemblance in the head, with similar ears and head shape. The tongue is prehensile and helps strip leaves and buds from rainforest brush. Very few people have ever seen an okapi in the wild. They are very wary of humans. Baby okapi zoomies are awesome.

We’re unsure how the okapi and duiker formed such a deep bond, but they seem very attached to each other. They can be seen roaming around in their enclosure together. The okapi frequently leans down to groom its little friend’s head.

It is possible that they are around the same age and formed a bond while growing up together. Enjoy this little duiker calf.

The San Diego Zoo doesn’t explain much about the two friends, but you can see in the first video that they are very close. Okapi and duiker are both adorable as babies and handsome as adults. If you wish to learn more about these unlikely friends, you can visit the San Diego Zoo.

You can follow the zoo on several social media outlets, including Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube, and TikTok, to see a variety of animals that are sure to make you smile.

Please share.

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.