One of the rarest albino jaguarundi babes ever found was discovered in Colombia.
Officials quickly rescued the cub from the Aburra Valley metro area, and transferred it to the conservation park nearby for treatment.
This cub has completely white eyes. Its inability to make the pigment that colors skin and eyes is what causes its color to be red. Other animals, however, are usually either gray or red-brown.
Because of its genetic limitations, the tiny cub won’t be able to live in the wild. The lack melanin means that these animals can hide themselves.
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The first albino jaguarundi cub of its type to be discovered in Colombia was a rare albino jaguarundi.
Amalfi Municipality Veterinarian Yuliany Duque said in a statement: ‘Authorities worked with the volunteer fire department to rescue the feline, which was approximately four hours from an urban area.
Jaguarundis is a puma that’s native to North America and South America. Jaguarundis are very independent animals that only visit their mating partners when they’re together.
A video was shared by the conservation park showing the cub jumping out of its enclosure onto the grass at its new home.
Jaguarundi is an endangered wild cat, found both in North and South America. However, it’s rarely seen north Mexico.
Officials quickly sent the cub to the conservation park nearby after they spotted it in the Aburra Valley metro area.
This cub has completely white eyes. Its inability to make the pigment that colors skin and eyes is what causes its color to be red. Other animals, however, are usually either gray or red-brown.
This animal is long and sleek with small ears. It also has short legs.
The jaguarundi comes in two colors: the reddish brown form (known as the eyra) and the gray version.
Sometimes, kittens from both types may be born in the same litter.
After a period of approximately 63 days, breeding takes place. A litter with two to three young is then born.
But, this cub from Colombia has a very unique genetic disorder.
Because of its genetic limitations, the tiny cub won’t be able to live in the wild. The lack melanin means that these animals can hide themselves.
The cub was seen bouncing off its cage onto grass in its new habitat. Although the jaguarundi can be found in both North and South Americas, it is rarely seen northerly of Mexico.
When both parents are carriers of the recessive gene, albinism is passed on to their children.
You can have either pure albino, or leucism.
The pure albino animal will display pink eyes, skin, and nails.
Pink coloration is caused by blood vessels visible in the skin. Leucism animals may exhibit more typical, but darker coloration patterns.
Apart from their appearance, many of these animals have issues such as bad eyesight.
The development of the eyes is supported by melanin. Eye muscles, retinas and optic nerves are all affected. Animals’ eyes will not properly form without melanin.
Lack of melanin can lead to melanoma. This is because the skin’s protection from sun damage by melanin. It can lead to severe problems for sun-basking animals, and even death.