In some cases they have trouble finding a mate, and their inability to camouflage themselves makes them vulnerable to predators. They often have poor eyesight, which puts them at a disadvantage when hunting for food and avoiding danger. Surviving with albinismĪlbino wildlife may face obstacles in nature. To tell the difference between an albino animal and one without the disease, look at the eyes: blood vessels normally masked by pigment show through in albino creatures, making their eyes pinkish in color.
Some animals are simply light-skinned, or they might suffer from other conditions, such as leucism and isabellinism. It’s important to note that not all white animals are albino. Even albino mammals can show some color if their melanin-making genes haven’t been totally damaged. Non-mammal animals can also be albino, but because they can produce other pigments in addition to melanin, they may not appear fully white. The production of melanin occurs within melanocytes, specialized cells that are present but not fully functional in albino mammals. In mammals, albinism occurs when an individual inherits one or more mutated genes from both parents that interfere with the body’s production of melanin, the main pigment that determines the color of skin, fur, and eyes. Even though the birth of an albino animal is considered a sacred or auspicious event in some cultures, research suggests that some albino animals have difficulty in the wild.
Albino gorilla skin#
These unique creatures have partial or complete loss of pigmentation, hence their pale skin tone compared to other members of their species. The zoo will study his DNA and skeleton after his death, but like all zoo animals he will eventually be cremated.Although rare in nature, albino animals have been spotted everywhere from the skies to the seas. Though a popular icon, the albino gorilla has little interest to the scientific community beyond being a "curiosity", Fernandez said.
"When Copito de Nieve is gone, an era of Barcelona will end," said zoo spokesperson Miguel San Llehy. The gorilla's wrinkly white face is on postcards all over the city, he's a main character in a novel and even has memoirs written in his name.Ĭity officials say such an important part of Barcelona culture shouldn't be forgotten, and there are plans to name a street after Copito or honour him with a monument. He has never been known for his good temper, and seems to resent the throngs of onlookers who line up daily outside his glass-walled cage. In his 37 years at the Barcelona zoo, he's fathered 22 offspring with three different females. This week, Copito appeared before the crowds in his habitual disdainful manner, turning his back as cameras flashed.Ĭaretakers say the gorilla has become meeker in his old age, playing with his seven grandchildren. City officials are encouraging people to visit Copito, a symbol for Barcelona since he was captured by a hunter in Equatorial Guinea in 1966 and brought here. In the wild, gorillas only live to be about 25.įor now, the gorilla appears healthy.
But they are very rare and Copito is the only one known to be alive anywhere today, he said.Īt the Diane Fosse Gorilla Fund International headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, fund president Claire Richardson said that Copito is in fact the only such gorilla she had heard of.Īnd at the Bronx Zoo in New York City, animal keeper Amy Fuller also said Copito is apparently one of a kind.Ĭopito is so famous in the international veterinary community that his illness has been a topic of lament for days, Fuller said.Ĭopito is thought to be between 38 and 40, equivalent to 80 human years. Fernandez said not enough studies have been done to know how many albino gorillas may live in the wild.
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