Albinism is a hereditary genetic disorder that results in little or no production of melanin, a natural pigment responsible for skin, eye, and hair color. Though rare, this condition can affect anyone: it can manifest in people, animals, and even plants. wіɩd Florida Airboats & Gator Park in Kenansville, Florida, recently introduced two albino alligator babies, and the hatchlings are simply adorable beyond words.
The animal park shared a photo of the two albino alligator babies on Facebook, and people are quite surprised by their unique appearance. Although these crocodilian reptiles vary in skin color, dark-skinned alligators typically have a blackish-gray color, while light-skinned alligators have olive green or light brown colors. As mentioned earlier, albinism can also occur in animals, and reptiles are no exception. White-skinned alligators are extremely rare, and biologists estimate that there are only about 100 in the world.
A caiman born with albinism has ivory-colored skin and eyes slightly tinged with pink instead of the usual black and green. This genetic condition is the result of a recessive gene passed from parents to offspring. But for this gene to manifest in offspring, both parents must carry it. wіɩd Florida aims to breed more of this natural rarity, and fortunately, they have a pair of albino caimans named Blizzard (male) and Snowflake (female) who can assist them with that.
Since albino caimans cannot produce melanin, they lack the camouflage protection that helps them survive in nature. Additionally, white-skinned reptiles are prone to severe sunburn because they lack the natural skin protection against harmful UV rays. Considering all these factors, albino caimans won’t last long in the wild. Those born in captivity are kept in special enclosures that mimic their natural habitat while protecting them from direct sunlight. Therefore, albino caimans living in parks and zoos tend to live longer than those in the wild.
