The okapi lives in the Ituri Forest in the northeast corner of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa. The okapi is not endangered but its survival depends on the health and preservation of its rainforest home. The conservation of the Ituri Forest is also critical to its other inhabitants like the African gray parrot, Congo peafowl, Angolan colobus, chimpanzee, bush baby, bongo, yellow backed duiker, and forest elephant.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden supports okapi conservation through conservation breeding at the Zoo, with 12 born, working with other zoos worldwide, and supporting the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and Epulu Station. Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) covers a 13,700 square kilometer section of the Ituri Forest. The primary objective of the reserve is to "conserve and maintain in perpetuity the biological diversity, ecological process and productivity of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and associated ecosystems within the Ituri Forest and to ensure a continued reservoir of natural resources for sustainable exploitation by local people." Staff of the OWR and Epulu Station conduct behavioral and ecological studies of the okapi, patrol and protect the reserve, develop and produce education programs on wildlife and habitats for children and adults, and work with locals on improving farming practices and sustainable agriculture.