‘Albino’: Rare white deer spotted in wildlife sanctuary

Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Akash Deep Badhawan has piqued netizens’ interest by posting a picture of a rare albino deer on Twitter.

“Staying true to its tagline, “Katarniaghat- Where rare is common”, an albino spotted deer fawn was sighted this morning.

PC – Pulkit Gupta, Gharial Conservation Team (sic),” he said in the post.

Albinos typically inherit mutated genes from both parents that affect melanin production and have partial or complete loss of pigmentation. The pigment melanin affects the tone of the skin, fur, and eyes. Albino animals have a difficult time reproducing and are easy prey for predators. Lack of camouflage skills makes it harder for them to live, according to a Nat Geo report.

The viral image has gained a lot of attention on Twitter, where some users were worried for the safety of the unique animal while others were mesmerized to see it. Several other officials and bureaucrats commented on the image and expressed their opinions.