Albino Animals: Weird Specimens of Vagaries of Nature
Albino Animals are in a way the result of the vagaries of nature which results in oddities. This is actually a pathological condition known as albinism. In this condition the production of usual pigmentation do not take place or take place only partially due to the mutations that various genes undergo. A complete albino does not have melanin pigment and as a result are white in color with no markings and eyes which are pink. Some times we find partial albinos which have limited pigmentation as a result they exhibit blue-eyes.
Albinism has many degrees. Sometimes they are seen only in skin cells due to regional mutations which result in partial white color.
However, animals with unusual white color or patches should not be mistaken to be instances of albinism. They are called leucistic animals in which the pigmentation cells do not develop properly. This will result in white patches appearing on the body of the animals or they even turning completely white. Albinism can be ascertained by observing the eyes. Albinos have usually pink or red eyes and the whiteness is in the entire body.
Both albinism and leucism have been matters of great scientific curiosity. Many early sighting of these creatures either all white or partially white used to create a furor in the scientific world as the scientists wrongly thought that they have spotted on a hitherto unknown animal. Before the development of photography the scientists shot these animals and stuffed them. Many of the old zoos have these taxidermists’ specimens in some numbers. However, with the development of photography especially with the night vision cameras these unfortunate creatures didn’t have to die to wet the curiosity of men. These animals are photographed and filmed by hidden cameras which have given amazing images of these creatures.
The main problem faced by the albino animals is their inability to make use of the protective camouflage. It is a technique of eluding observation by becoming indiscernible in a given environment. In the jungles survival is a tricky thing. The survival rate of albinos in the jungle milieu is found to be very low. They are easily exposed to the predators and they run the risk of attack more than the other well protected animals.
Though man is responsible for the extinction of many species from the face of the earth there is hope that man is more and more concerned with the survival of animals. Albino Squirrel Preservation Society (ASPS) have evaluated the perils of the squirrels and come out with many creative ideas to protect them the perils of survival in world of imminent danger. How the survival of the albinos can be ensured in the wild is a matter of concern for animal lovers who have understood the precarious nature of the survival of the albinos in the wild.
There are certain common unscientific notions about albinistic individuals of a species. One of them is the popular notion that they are sterile. This is far from the truth as they are fully capable of reproduction. Some hold the view that albinos have shorter lives. This also is not true. However, they are more prone to skin cancer. Another misconception is that albinos will become blind in the course of their life. This is also not true. However, albinos are extremely photo sensitive.
Albinism is a rare occurrence in the nature’s scheme of things. However, we come across albino white ferrets and albino rabbits in large numbers. Albino squirrels are found in large numbers in Olney, Illinois and are considered the white squirrel capital of the world.
Because of the rarity of albinism among most species of animals this has generated lot of curiosity among people. This curiosity has resulted in the death of many albinos in the past. In the absence of well developed photography and lack of concern for animal rights man has perpetuated atrocities on the albinos as they are shot and preserved. From a scientific point of view this has given large collection of rare albinos which are kept in some of the zoos of the world.
It is interesting to note that the primitive tribes have successfully integrated the protection of the albinos in their socio-religious systems of beliefs. The albinos for them were somewhat sacred as they are rare. The tribal people considered the white buffalo as a holy spirit. The white deer is a kind of messenger of the gods. So the tribal folk ingrained codes of conduct with regard to the albinos. They are not to be hunted or killed. The violation of this prescription carried many curses. So, this belief system somehow saved the albinos. In primitive man’s co-existence with nature these integrated systems of belief has a socio-biological foundation. The logic behind this belief is: Why kill the white when the colored are available in plenty? Their faith system had a rationale which though was never explained in elaborated logic, yielded magnificent results in the preservation of the helpless.
It is good that we have an enhanced knowledge about the albino animals. However, our curiosity should not lead us to make short work of these animals by careless killing or ruthless separation from the natural habitat. The albinos are indeed freaks of nature. Perhaps man and his technology can lend a helping hand in their hard road to survival in a world full of hidden perils.
During the 19th century, the approach to albino animals was to shoot and taxidermise them. Many natural history museums have albino animals, particularly birds, in their collections. The taxidermised specimens on this page come from an age when animals were preserved for posterity as taxidermy specimens rather than conserved in the wild. This specimen is displayed at Rothschild Zoological Museum, Tring, England.Albino American Black Bear (the American Black Bear also has a white colour morph and since this speciment has dark eyes, it may be the white morph rather than a true albino)
The list of extinct animals in Africa features the animals that have become extinct on the African continent and its islands, like Madagascar, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Réunion, Seychelles, St. Helena, Cape Verde, etc.
Global Holocene Extinctions
Extinctions in the wild