They are rare! They are endangered! But they are exceptionally beautiful!
Nature is full of surprises. Even the slightest mutation in a gene that gives way to a new species or feature in a living being is seen as a beauty. Well, you have probably come across people with albinism. But, did you know that even animals suffer from this condition? Albino animals are very rare and very beautiful. Suffering from a con-genital defect, these animals are characterized by their white skin and hair. The absence of skin pigment melanin is the main reason for this condition. But, due to their rarity, these animals always on the target of human poachers and also the nature itself. Let us take a look at some of the most rare albino animals our nature has gifted us with.
Albino Lion
The white albino lions are very rare, and yes there is a difference in between the albino lions and the lions with leucism. All white animals are not necessarily albino.
The lions that have Albino, will have white hair, skin, nose and even the eyes. So, next time you see a white lion on National Geographic, check its nose and eyes to confirm your doubts.
Rattlesnake
The Albino Western diamondback rattle snakes don’t live long. Due to their colorless skin, they are easily spotted by their predators. They are aggressive in nature as a result of their defensive mechanism to protect themselves from their enemies. However, these snakes are pale yellow in color rather than white in color.
Gorilla
Albinism can affect all animals, mammals and non-mammals as well. Meet Snowflake the albino gorilla, actually the world’s only albino Gorilla who lived in the zoo at Barcelona. However in the year 2003, Snowflake was unfortunately euthanized after he was diagnosed with a type of skin cancer that was caused mostly due to his albinism.
Kangaroo
The jumping bunch of kangaroos are always great to watch! But, when you see an albino kangaroo, you just want to stop your work and watch it for as long as you can. This albino kangaroo mother is highly vulnerable especially due to its genetic conditions that caused it to have a weak vision in addition to hearing problems. however, the baby in the pouch is normal and not albino.
Zebra
Can zebras be also albino? Certainly! The albino zebras are also called as the golden zebras due to their tanned color. Appearing mostly white, these zebras however retain their stripes, but very faintly which also gets blended with the dust in the dry plains, making them camouflage themselves from their predators.
Sea Turtle
Truly one of its kind! A rare albino sea turtle was spotted on the beach of Queensland Australia in February. The turtle stayed in the warmth of its nest comparatively more than its siblings and was spotted right after it broke the shell of its egg. According to chief scientist of Queensland Threatened Species Dr. Col Limpus, the birth of an albino turtle occurs only once in several hundreds and thousands of eggs laid across the world.
