A Chinese nature reserve has captured what is believed to be the world’s first picture of an albino Giant Panda.
The Wolong national nature reserve in the south-western province of Sichuan, released a photo showing an all-white panda making its way through the brush.
Scientists studying the photo have determined that the bear has albinism, a condition that limits the skin pigment melanin. The condition doesn’t appear to affect the bear’s health though as the nature reserve said it appeared ‘physically strong with a steady gait’.
The Giant Panda was pictured with a remote infrared camera and is believed to be between one and two years old, although experts can’t be certain.
It’s also impossible to tell from the picture what sex the animal is.
The Giant Panda is one of the rarest bears in the world, with less than 2,000 surviving in the wild.
Scientist’s from China’s Conservation and Research Centre said the albinism gene is recessive and could be passed down to family members in the Wolong population.
But, given the extremely rare nature of both the species and the gene, it’s unlikely we’ll see too many more albino Pandas.
However, the park has said it will set up more infrared cameras in the hope of capturing more evidence.
‘If we can capture the next generation, the research value will be even greater,’ the reserve said in a statement.
