A rare white giraffe (not an albino but one showing the genetic condition of leucism), was reported in April as a calf in Tanzania. Here she is as a juvenile:
At the time, people were worried that, visible as she is, she’d be easy prey for predators like lions. Well, now the calf has been named Omo, and she’s just been seen again, having survived her first year: a good sign. The Torygraph has an article, and the paper and the ILoveAfrica Facbeook page have photos:
She’s with her mates (note the color difference, and also that leucism doesn’t completely efface the pigment, but does lighten areas of the body):
She’s largely past the predator period, except for one nefarious predator: humans. Ecologist Derek Lee comments at the Torygraph:
“Omo is the only pale giraffe we are currently aware of, but we have also observed leucistic waterbuck, Cape buffalo and ostrich in Tarangire.
“Omo appears to get along with the other giraffes, she has always been seen with a large group of normally coloured giraffe, they don’t seem to mind her different colouring.”
. . . However he warned that her unique colour could make her a target for poachers in the African park.
He added: “Omo is now 15 months old. She survived her first year as a small calf, which is the most dangerous time for a young giraffe due to lion, leopard and hyena preying on them.
“Her chances of surviving to adulthood are good but adult giraffes are regularly poached for bush meat, and her colouration might make her a target.
“We and our partners are working on giraffe conservation and anti-poaching to help give Omo and her relatives a better chance of survival.
Why is she named “Omo”? After a detergent available in Tanzania:
Go here to see more species with individuals showing leucism.
What a gorgeous redhead.
Are human redheads also “victims” of leucism?
Doesn’t seem to inhibit their survival (from what I have seen in the I’net…)
The red hair trait in humans is generally the result of an increase in production of the yellow/orange pigment phaeomelanin + a reduction in the brown/black pigment melanin. Since redheads have reduced (but not 0) amounts of melanin, their eyes are often blue or green. Albinos completely lack melanin, and their pigment-less eyes are characteristically red.
Leucism is variously described, but Wikipedia says it is a moderate reduction in all pigments and the effects particularly target the melanocyte cells that are made from neural crest cells. These are the pigment forming cells in skin. But they characteristically have normal amounts of melanin in their eyes (the pigmented cells there are not from neural crest) so they can still have brown eyes. I suppose there are humans with leucism. I expect they would have red hair, but brown eyes. Just a guess there.
Are giraffes with this different colouration less likely to be mated with? Her herd apparently accepts her, but I wondered if this extends to potential mates.
Since males are usually much less picky than females about mating partners, my guess would be that provided she gives off all the standard olfactory/hormonal signals of fertility, there’ll be a male giraffe willing to try his luck with her. If all you’re investing is a few shots of sperm, what have you got to lose?
Thanks. I think.
At the risk of people thinking I hate men or something, it sounds like a bit of an indictment of all men. 🙂
Not necessarily an indictment, but a description of many, many men.
Whassat? I don’t know any men who are the least bit interested in giraffes, white or spotted.
Besides, there are certain practical difficulties. (Cue mental image of sex-crazed man chasing giraffe with a stepladder)
‘Anything that moves’ does have its limitations…
cr
LOL.
Heather: Good comment. If bleached-out males were even slightly rejected by females, genes for leucism would be selected against just as surely as they would if carriers were more susceptible to predators. On the other hand, in the “bad-old-days”, before predators were thinned out, Omo’s chances of surviving her first year may have been considerably reduced compared to today.
Interesting. Thanks.
Sub
Fascinating.
But Omo doesn’t deteriorate the colours! The commercials kept telling me so since I was young! It must be the temperature that’s wrong.
(Omo is a Unilever product so also available in much of Europe)
Interesting case!
OMO used to be sold in the UK – haven’t seen it for years. Urban legend is that lonely housewives would put a packet in the window signifying that they would welcome some male company. (Old Man Out) 😉
So beautiful!
What a strangely compelling beauty! Almost ethereal. I wish a full long life for her.
In my six rather lengthy stays in Kenya, I used to buy Omo to do my washing. It is sold in small packets – I usually bought it in those small shops that were little more than shacks, usually held by women. I favoured these small shops over large “normal” shops so as to contribute to the income of these women who were working hard to earn enough money not only to feed and clothe their children but to buy their school uniforms and school books and to pay their school fees.
Gorgeous specimen. And thanks for the link to other individuals with leucism. The reptiles were especially cool looking.
Some interesting news:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160125100118.htm
Good luck Omo! Here (on Flickr) is a snap of a couple of leucistic Wildebeest, also in Tanzania (Mikumi National Park 2012). They seem to have done OK as well.