https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240228/pretty-in-pink-extremely-rare-albino-elephant-spotted-in-south-africa-1065305708.html
'Pretty in Pink': Extremely Rare Albino Elephant Spotted in South Africa
'Pretty in Pink': Extremely Rare Albino Elephant Spotted in South Africa
Sputnik Africa
The baby elephant has pink skin and light-colored fur as a result of an inherited condition called albinism, a genetic disorder that stops the production of a... 28.02.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-02-28T17:43+0100
2024-02-28T17:43+0100
2024-02-28T17:55+0100
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A tour operator from South Africa, Theo Potgieter, boasted on social networks of an unprecedented success - he had the chance to see a pink elephant playing in the water in the Kruger National Park in the southern South Africa.A one-year-old albino elephant cub appears pink due to a lack of melanin pigment in the animal's skin cells.Potgieter said that albinism is much less common in African elephants than in Asian elephants, with 1 albino in 10,000 species.The tour operator noted that the melamine-free descendants of mammoths face many challenges, including the scorching African sun and rejection by some members of the group. Fortunately for the unusual elephant found, the latter problem is irrelevant.Albinism impacts vision, too, according to the Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development Trust, which cares for another albino elephant in another game reserve in South Africa.In addition, their lack of colored fur, scales, or skin means that they often lose their ability to camouflage themselves against their environment, making it difficult for them to hide from predators or prey.Albinism is a rare disease because it is recessive and only occurs when both parents carry the mutated gene and pass it on to their offspring.
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south africa, southern africa, animals, animals' protection, elephants, nature
'Pretty in Pink': Extremely Rare Albino Elephant Spotted in South Africa
17:43 28.02.2024 (Updated: 17:55 28.02.2024) The baby elephant has pink skin and light-colored fur as a result of an inherited condition called albinism, a genetic disorder that stops the production of a molecule called melanin, which is responsible for pigment in the eyes, hair and skin.
A tour operator from South Africa, Theo Potgieter, boasted on social networks of an unprecedented
success - he had the chance to see a pink elephant playing in the water in the Kruger National Park in the southern South Africa.
A one-year-old albino elephant cub appears pink due to a lack of melanin pigment in the animal's skin cells.
Potgieter said that albinism is much less common in African elephants than in Asian elephants, with 1 albino in 10,000 species.
The tour operator noted that the melamine-free descendants of mammoths
face many challenges, including the scorching African sun and rejection by some members of the group. Fortunately for the unusual elephant found, the latter problem is irrelevant.
"This little guy however seemed to have had the opposite reaction from his family. They totally enjoyed the cool water from the Olifants river & like human kids, they wrestled & played without a care in the world," Potgieter said.
Albinism impacts vision, too, according to the Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development Trust, which cares for another albino elephant in another game reserve in South Africa.
In addition, their lack of colored fur, scales, or skin means that they often lose their ability to camouflage themselves against their environment, making it difficult for them to hide from predators or prey.
Albinism is a
rare disease because it is recessive and only occurs when both parents carry the mutated gene and pass it on to their offspring.
