Pink elephants can look like fairy tales or cartoons. But that’s exactly what some photographers have seen at wildlife sanctuaries in South Africa.
When Nicki Coertze, a professional wildlife photographer, visited Kruger National Park in South Africa, he spotted a rare pink baby elephant that stood out from the crowd of African gray elephants. The rare elephant was discovered near the Shingwedsi River along with other elephants in the herd. The river is often used by elephants for drinking and bathing.
The sweetest pink baby elephant ever found has pale pink skin that contrasts directly with its mother’s classic gray skin. This unique calf was said to be around two or three weeks old at the time of filming and is definitely the youngest of the herd. The clip remains unclear whether the calf is ᴀʟʙɪɴᴏ real or the pink/white color is due to a genetic condition called ʟᴇᴜᴄɪsᴍ.
Aʟʙɪɴɪsᴍ is a condition in which a lack of melanin in the skin leads to loss of color in the skin, hair, and fur. Animals with Aʟʙɪɴɪsᴍ usually have pink or red eyes. On the other hand, ʟᴇᴜᴄɪsᴍ refers only to partial loss of pigmentation and is a genetic condition that can only be seen in animals. Animals ʟᴇᴜᴄɪsᴛɪᴄ have overall pale coat, skin or fur or pale spots and have normal colored eyes.
Whether he’s ᴀʟʙɪɴᴏ or ʟᴇᴜᴄɪsᴛɪᴄ, this little elephant has a tough road ahead of him. Animals with these diseases move out of their natural habitat, which makes them more vulnerable to ᴘʀᴇᴅᴀᴛᴏʀs. They are often sensitive to light and can experience health problems related to genetic mutations.
Unfortunately, ᴀʟʙɪɴᴏ/ʟᴇᴜᴄɪsᴛɪᴄ wild animals are easy targets for ᴘʀᴇᴅᴀᴛᴏʀ because they stand out in their habitat and are easy to get along with. However, that doesn’t mean the adorable calf won’t be able to grow up. Hood.
Lucky for this pink baby, there are so many wonderful guardians around her. We wish this little pink elephant all the best and a long and healthy life. Share these unusual photos with your family and friend