Albino Animals in the Zoo

Albino animals inherit a lack of pigmentation from their parents. These animals are completely white and even lack eye color. Albino animals are often exhibited in zoos, where they can be given special care and protection from predators and the sun. These rare animals sometimes become famous for their unusual appearance.

  1. About Albinoism

    • Albino animals are born without the pigmentation, called melanin, that gives their skin, fur and eyes their coloring. Albino animals are white in color and have pink or red eyes. Some albino animals lack characteristic markings, such as a giraffe's spots or a zebra's stripes. Not all white animals are albino, however. To know for sure, look at the eyes. Without pigmentation, they appear pink or red. A white animal with blue eyes, in contrast to normal animals of their species, are called leucistic. They have a reduced amount of pigmentation, rather than none at all like albinos. Being albino is an inherited trait, passed from parent to child.

    Sun Precautions

    • One of the biggest risks to albino animals is the sun. These animals don't have the natural protection of their coloring to protect them from sunburn. In zoos, albino animals are given restricted access to the sun and often sunblock is used to protect their delicate skin. In the wild, albino animals are at risk for severe burns that might lead to skin cancer. Domesticated albino animals, such as cows or pigs, which normally would spend all their day in fields, are also at risk for burn.

    Dangers in the Wild

    • A wild animal's coloring serves an important purpose. It helps to camouflage the animal from predators. Their coloring also helps them to blend in and identifies them as part of a particular species. Without pigmentation, a wild animal loses the protection they receive from being able to camouflage themselves, and so are at greater risk of being killed. They also stand out in their own species and may be ostracized or even killed by other animals.

    Famous Albino Animals

    • It is believed that Snowflake, an albino gorilla in Barcelona, was the most photographed animal in the world. He died of skin cancer. The San Diego zoo features an albino koala bear called Onya-Birri, which means "ghost boy" in an aboriginal language. Karl Ferdinand Trunk performs with albino boars in circus acts. In Germany, White Diamond was a famous albino alligator who lived in Serengeti park.