White Giraffe Spotted in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

Kudos to ecologist Dr Derek Lee for sharing these pictures of a rare white giraffe roaming inside the Tarangire National Park in Tanzania.

What is the cause of the white skin color of the giraffe? According to Derek: ‘Omo is leucistic, meaning many of the skin cells are incapable of making a pigment but some are, so she is pale – but not pure white with red or blue eyes as a true albino would be.

‘It is a genetic condition.

‘Omo is the only pale giraffe we are currently aware of, but we have also observed leucistic waterbuck, cape buffalo and ostrich in Tarangire’.

He added: ‘Omo appears to get along with the other giraffes, she has always been seen with a large group of normally colored giraffe – they don’t seem to mind her different colouring.

‘Omo is now 15 months old – she survived her first year as a small calf, which is the most dangerous time for a young giraffe due to lion, leopard and hyena preying on them.

‘Her chances of surviving to adulthood are good – but adult giraffe are regularly poached for bush meat, and her coloration might make her a target.