The okapi (Okapia& johnstoni) is an endangered, evolutionarily distinct giraffid, endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The okapi is a flagship species for the DRC,a country that contains some of the greatest biodiversity in the world. The okapi is currently under major threat from habitat fragmentation, human encroachment and poaching, yet to date, very little is known about the species in the wild, and no genetic study in the wild or captivity has ever been carried out. This thesis aims to use genetics to aid conservation efforts of okapi,a species that due to its elusive nature, is highly challenging to study using alternative methods.