Fossa, Okapi

Staying very literal to the "name" of my blog, I offer up here a series (perhaps) of some truly uncanny animals.

Fossa



First we have the fossa, which is unique to Madagascar (which, like Australia, seems to be home to a whole slew of almost freakishly strange but cool creatures). I witnessed this animal for the first time last year at the Staten Island Zoo of all places. The fossa looks like a small wild cat, but moves around like a spider monkey. Thus its true "uncannyness" can perhaps only be witnessed in action, as in this video.
It was awhile ago now, but I remember being startled by the way they lept through the air and swung around from ropes. Let's give it up for the Fossa.


Okapi



Hiya, Okapi, I just heard of you today, but figured this was a good place to add you to my memory. These guys are native to Congo, and as one can see, has some very zebra-like stripes going on in the back, but they are a close relative of the giraffe (one of the most majestically weird creatures around, in my opinion, though I'll save those thoughts for another time). You can see the giraffe likeness in the big ears, little fuzzy horns, and body shape and movement as in this video. I don't think I've ever seen an okapi "in person", though you never know with how crazy these big zoos are these days. Nice to meet you Okapi, you half-zebra, half-giraffey feller.


Baby Okapi: