Although there is a difference between albino and leucistic animals, they share a common problem that makes them rarely seen in the wild.
As National Geographic outlined , it’s not so much that neither condition rarely occurs in nature but rather that the bright white coloration that makes these animals a special sight for us puts them at a disadvantage. After all, their predators are just as excited to see them as we are though not for the same reason.
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So when somebody does catch an unusually snow white animal in the wild, it makes for a breathtaking sight. Fortunately for us, the most recent person to do so was able to bring us the full video.
On August 7, boat Captain Dennis Rogers and a grad student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks named Stephanie Hayes were traveling off the coast of southeastern Alaska.
As Hayes posted on Instagram, she caught sight of a pod of orcas known as the Canadian Bigg’s/Transient Killer Whale pod T046 in the middle of a hunt.
However, she soon discovered that one of them was showing up much clearer than the others due to its entirely white skin.
She referred to this as a once in a lifetime sighting, writing , “Even researchers never expect to see one in their career.”
For his part, Captain Rogers told CBS News that in 45 years of sailing in the area, he had never seen a white orca.
The killer whale — a two-yearold named Tl’uk — appears as he does due to a condition called leucism.
As Hayes explained to CBS News, this is characterized by a “lack of vibrancy” in the whale’s pigmentation and caused by a genetic mutation. Hayes also said it remains unclear how exactly leucism occurs in animals but some scientists suspect that it’s a result of inbreeding.
Tl’uk differs from an albino killer whale in the sense that he doesn’t also have pink eyes as they would.
Although Hayes said the sight of Tl’uk made everyone on the boat gasp, she was particularly excited to see it hunt as part of a pod.
Unfortunately, she also told CBS News that this might not be the case for long as whales are forced to leave their families when they’re fully grown.
Not only will this mutation make it unlikely for another pod to accept Tl’uk but his unique appearance may also alert seals of his presence when he tries to hunt them.
This reality likely does a lot to explain why only eight white orcas have ever been recorded in the world.
Nonetheless, spotting one provides a rare opportunity for researchers.
As Hayes said , “Hopefully, we can monitor it and find out what happens in the life of a white killer whale.”
h/t: Instagram | @worldtravelstephanie , CBS News
