- A rare inherited disease, albinism, stops the production of the skin pigment melanin.
- Witness: The elephant herd was “very protective and patient” with the pink elephant calf
- READ MORE: Mystery as Texas woman shares photo of strange four-legged creature in her backyard; People speculate that it may be the CHUPACABRA
<!–
<!–
<!– <!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
A safari operator in South Africa captured footage of a rare young pink elephant jumping and playing with its gray companions at a waterhole in Kruger National Park.
The pink elephant calf, about a year old, was born with albinism, wildlife biologists said, a rare genetic condition that stops the body’s production of the skin pigment known as melanin, sometimes with harmful effects.
The researchers noted that some species avoid rare albino births among their own kind, but Kruger elephants appear to be very protective of their own pink elephant.
In the video recorded by the safari operator, the elephants can be seen splashing, rolling and playing with the young pink elephant in a waterhole in the national park.
The pink elephant calf, about a year old, was born with albinism, wildlife biologists said, a rare genetic condition that stops the body’s production of the skin pigment known as melanin, sometimes with damaging effects on eyesight. of the creature and its foraging abilities.
“It is always a privilege to witness these extremely rare and special animals,” said safari operator Theo Potgieter. Living science.
Potgieter, who has personally witnessed cases of albinism in elephants in the Kruger National Park, told the publication that he saw the herd accept and care for their unique pink calves in both cases.
“In both recent sightings of two different individuals,” Potgieter explained via email, “the rest of the pack appeared to be very protective and patient with the presence of these young individuals.”
While some creatures with albinism, such as catfish, have been avoided or rejected by their peers, such as researchers have documentedOthers, such as albino alligators, are often simply eaten by predators before reaching adulthood.
A safari operator in South Africa captured footage of this rare young pink elephant (centre) jumping and playing with its young gray companions at a waterhole in Kruger National Park.
The same safari operator, Theo Potgieter, also personally witnessed another case of albinism in elephants in the Kruger National Park. He said that, in both cases, he saw the pack accept and care for their unique pink cubs.
Poachers who trade in exotic animals have also preyed on albino animals, a practice that has led to at least one nonprofit organization purchasing an entire island off the coast of Indonesia just to build a sanctuary there for a albino orangutan.
While many albino creatures continue to lead solitary lives away from their more ruddy, melanin-enriched peers, these are only part of their problems.
To make matters worse, the condition also reduces the pigment in the iris, causing vision problems.
This “conjunctivitis” can undermine an animal’s ability to forage for food, detect predators, or even track and hunt its own prey.
Like the albino alligator, many other species, when born with albinism, develop bright white fur, scales or skin, making it impossible to camouflage in many environments, adding to their life challenges.
Because these elephants, gender. LoxodontaThey are typically dark gray in color, their small offspring with albinism develop pink skin and light hair.
Albinism is caused by a recessive gene, meaning that both parents must carry the trait to produce albino offspring, an unlikely mating condition that increases the rarity of this mutated gene.
According to Potgieter, this rare disease “only occurs once in every 10,000 births” of mammals in the wild.