Rare White Giraffe Spotted In Tanzania

A white giraffe with a genetic skin condition has been photographed at a national park in Tanzania, with experts fearing she could become a target for poachers.

Tanzania is a country in central Africa.

This beautiful country is just south of Kenya and it has a long coastline along the Indian Ocean. Tanzania is also home to a very unique pale giraffe, named Omo.

Standing out isn't always a good thing in the wild.

Omo has a condition known as leucism; many of Omo's skin cells are unable to make any pigment. Leucism is not the same as albinism, but it's certainly a related diagnosis.

Omo is two years old and lives in the Tarangire National Park.

While still growing, it's a great sign that Omo made it to this age. Baby giraffes face many challenges in their first year of life, including avoiding big hungry cats.

This pale giraffe is lucky to live on a reservation where there are protections against poaching.

This beautiful creature's pale skin makes her stand out in the African landscape. Despite her unique appearance, Omo lives with a heard of giraffes who don't treat her any differently.

Omo isn't the only white giraffe in Africa.

Here is another white giraffe who has been spotted just a couple of times north of Tanzania, in Kenya.

Back in 2005, another pale giraffe was spotted in the same Tanzanian preserve where Omo now lives.

There had been reports of a white giraffe living in the area dating back to the early 1990s, but this was the first photograph ever captured of the rare animal.

Could Omo be related to the pale giraffe photographed in 2005?

Leucism is a gene mutation, but less than one in 10,000 giraffes display this mutated gene. Let's hope all of the rare wildlife throughout Tanzania gets protected from poaching so that more gems, like Omo, have a chance to thrive.

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