They photographed for the first time an albino panda | E …

For the first time in history, they managed to photograph a free albino panda in a nature reserve in China's Sichuan Province. The animal, with completely white skin and red eyes resulting from a genetic mutation, would be between one and two years old.

The photo was taken in mid-April by an infrared camera located more than 2,000 meters above sea level, but was recently published in the local press. "According to the photographs, the panda is an albino, aged one to two years old," said Li Sheng, a researcher at Peking University and a bear specialist, who studied the photographs. . "The panda looked strong and his footsteps were constant, a sign that the genetic mutation might not have hindered his life," he added.

For his part, the director of the reserve, Duan Zhaogang, said that he would install more cameras in the area to monitor the activities of this particular white mammal.

Albinism exists in different species of vertebrates. The mutation inhibits the synthesis of melanin in the body of an animal, although this usually does not affect the physical composition and functions of the animal. One of the consequences that could result is to make them easier to discover before dams or to generate a sensitivity to the sun.

The existence of genes responsible for albinism in pandas was already known, but it is the first time that one gets an image of it. However, some specimens had already been observed with brown skin, which experts also considered a genetic mutation.

The albino mutation is a recessive gene. It is only when the parent pandas possess both genes that the baby can show the albino traits. If this white panda mates with a normal panda, their first generation babies will always be black and white. But their babies, carriers of the albino gene, will eventually give birth to completely white pandas if their partners also carry these genes, said the specialist.

Pandas are currently on the list of vulnerable species, which means that although their survival is threatened, conservation efforts have helped reduce their risk of extinction.

According to the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) last 2014 pandemic survey, there are only 1,864 specimens in the world and its natural habitat is currently limited to six mountainous areas in the Chinese provinces. Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu. .