A safari guide in South Africa recently captured remarkable footage of a young pink elephant enjoying time at a waterhole in Kruger National Park.
The calf, believed to be about one year old, has a rare condition called albinism, which affects its skin pigmentation, causing it to stand out among its gray companions.
Albinism, a genetic disorder that reduces or stops melanin production, can sometimes negatively affect animals.
Despite this, the herd in Kruger seems protective of their unusual pink member, an attitude that contrasts with how some other species react to albino births.
In some cases, animals with albinism are shunned by their kind, but these elephants appear welcoming.
In a video recorded by safari operator Theo Potgieter, the pink elephant splashes and plays with other elephants in the park’s waterhole.
Potgieter, who has observed albinism in elephants before, described the herd’s behavior as nurturing and patient toward these rare calves.
He told Live Science that both instances of albinism he has witnessed in Kruger showed the herd’s protectiveness toward the affected young ones.
While animals with albinism, such as catfish, are often isolated by their peers, others, like albino alligators, face an even harsher fate.
Predators often target albino animals before they reach maturity due to their distinct appearance, and some have been poached for their rarity.
In extreme cases, organizations have had to create sanctuaries, like one in Indonesia built for an albino orangutan, to protect them.
Aside from social challenges, albino animals also experience physical disadvantages. Their lack of pigment often leads to poor eyesight, commonly known as “pink eye,” making it harder for them to find food, spot predators, or navigate their surroundings.
Additionally, their light-colored skin or fur makes it difficult to blend into their environment, putting them at greater risk.
Elephants, typically gray, develop pink skin and light hair when born with albinism. Since a recessive gene causes albinism, both parents must carry the gene for a calf to be born albino, which makes the condition even more uncommon. According to Potgieter, albinism occurs in only one in every 10,000 mammal births in the wild.
Despite the challenges these animals face, the sight of this rare pink elephant thriving among its herd at Kruger National Park is a heartwarming reminder of the wonders of nature.