While we drew the okapis today at the Copenhagen zoo, my friend told me a startling story. Okapis are rare African forest-dwelling relatives of the giraffe and sensitive animals. Very sensitive. Twenty years ago the Royal Theatre staged a performance at the zoo of selections from Wagner’s Tannhauser. They were just practicing their high notes when one of the nearby okapis, a six-year-old female named Katanda, came unglued.
Wagner can have that effect on people, too.
Long story short, the stressed-out okapi expired on the spot. Naturally, I wanted to confirm this strange tale of sturm und drang, and found this from the Associated Press, and this, too.
In the enclosure with us a portable boom box provided a little music for the okapis. They seemed fine with the musical choice. It was rock and roll.
Happy Friday.
Drawing The Motmot 
Wonderful, beautiful drawings!
Sad about the okapi scared to death, but I did chuckle at the rock n roll acceptability.:-)
I feel the same way, dinahmow. The okapis seemed to be soothed by the music, which was kept at low volume, at least. Thanks for the note!
Fantastic drawings and a great story – I always wonder about the wisdom of bringing wild animals into the theatre.