Thanks to Nicki Coertze, we can now all enjoy seeing a unique pink elephant!
When Nicki Coertze, a professional photographer specializing in wildlife, visited Kruger National Park in South Africa, he noticed an extraordinary pink elephant calf standing out from the group of African gray elephants.
Excited by the unusual sight, he swiftly captured the photos that have now been shared worldwide. Thankfully, he did because spotting a pink elephant is not an everyday occurrence.
As per experts, the pink coloration may be the result of a condition called Leucism. According to the definition provided in Webster’s dictionary, Leucism is:
“A genetic mutation that inhibits melanin and other pigments from being deposited in feathers, hair, or skin, which causes an abnormal condition of reduced pigmentation that affects various animals (such as mammals, birds, and reptiles) and is characterized by overall pale color or patches of reduced coloring.”
Coertze initially saw the pink baby elephant near a waterhole with its mother and other members of the herd. Regrettably, animals affected by Leucism are easier targets for predators as they stand out from their environment. However, this pink calf is fortunate to have many large protectors surrounding it.
Dr. Ian Whyte, a wildlife specialist at Kruger Park, mentioned to a South African news outlet that pink elephants might be more prevalent than expected, as many do not survive.
It is uncertain whether the calf is a leucistic or a true white elephant, also known as an albino, according to Dr. Ian Whyte, a Kruger Park large herbivore wildlife specialist. Since leucistic elephants have dark eyes and true albinos have pink eyes, only time will reveal the truth.
Despite being different and standing out from the herd, the pink baby elephant is being accepted by his family. This is not always the case for special animals, as they can sometimes get rejected by their herd.
We wish this adorable pink elephant a long and healthy life. Don’t forget to share these remarkable pictures with your loved ones.
Rewritten Source: https://dogdispatch.com/a-rare-pink-baby-elephant-was-spotted-at-a-wildlife-park-in-south-africa/