Found in Wollong Conservation Area in Sichuan Province in 2019
Estimated 2-3 years old at the time… parent panda unknown
No abnormal health · Normal interaction with other pandas
The current status of the world’s only ‘albinism’ giant panda has been revealed for the first time.
On the 28th (local time), China’s state-run CCTV reported that the recent situation of an albinism giant panda found in Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province, China in 2019 was first released in four years.
This albinistic giant panda is the only known albinism in the world so far.
Albinism is a congenital genetic disorder in which melanin synthesis is deficient, and the giant panda has pale pink eyes as well as white fur. It is known that animals suffering from albinism are often accompanied by various diseases due to genetic problems. However, the albino giant did not show any health problems, Chinese authorities said.
Li Sheng, a researcher at the Department of Biological Sciences at Peking University in China, said, “It is a different form from the brown giant panda found in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi Province.”
“Albinism giant pandas not only survived healthy, but also communicated and interacted normally with other wild giant pandas,” he said. “Albinism does not appear to affect healthy growth and social activities in the panda ecosystem.” revealed
The giant panda was first captured by an infrared camera in Wollong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province in 2019.
At the time, only part of the giant panda with albinism was included in the video and photos due to filming equipment and site limitations. When contrasted with the scene of an ordinary giant panda passing by in the same location, the color of the hair was clearly different. Based on the data collected, the researchers estimated that the giant panda with albinism would have been around 2 to 3 years old at the time.
The parent panda of this albino giant panda has not been identified. The researchers said that the panda has reached an adult age and is capable of breeding, and further follow-up is needed to see if an albino panda will be born through heredity.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.