Daily Times

These incredible snaps show a rare white giraffe grazing in the African bush.

Omo the white giraffe has been spotted roaming around Tarangire National Park, in Tanzania, along with the rest of her herd – who don’t seem to be bothered about her unusual colouring.

Ecologist Dr Derek Lee, founder and scientist at the Wild Nature Institute, caught the pale giraffe on camera.

Derek, 45, said, “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 coloured 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 colouration might make her a target. We and our partners are working on giraffe conservation and anti-poaching to help give Omo and her relatives a better chance of survival. We hope that she lives a long life and that some day she has calves of her own.”

Wild Nature Institute does scientific research, public education and advocacy for the preservation of wild nature. They are conducting the biggest ever giraffe research project, using giraffe’s natural spot patters to identify every individual giraffe, documenting the lives of more than 2,100 giraffe in Tarangire National Park.