Nature’s Wonder: Rare White Deer Becomes the New Sensation at North Carolina Zoo

In the United States, the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro announced the presence of a newcomer who wasn't really invited. A particularly rare wild animal has indeed invited itself into the zoological park.

This is a white-tailed deer that lives with its herd in the wild. He has already been seen several times by employees of the American zoo. As the park explains, employees were looking for wild animals when they had the pleasant surprise of seeing this white deer.

This incredible white deer is not albino

At over 810 acres, the North Carolina Zoo is the largest zoo in the world. Many wild animals can thus live peacefully within its enclosure. Inside the enclosures, the North Carolina Zoo is home to more than 1,100 animals representing more than 250 species.

The white deer which is still only a fawn does not suffer from albinism, but from leucism. It is a genetic mutation caused by a recessive gene. It gives a white color to the coat of affected animals.

Moreover, the discoloration can be partial with only white spots on the coat or total in the case of this white deer. Unlike albinism, the iris is never completely depigmented in cases of leucism.

About 1 in 1,000 fawns have leucism

As the zoo announces, “the employees who had the chance to see the little white fawn were the envy of their colleagues. More and more staff have confirmed seeing the little guy, with everyone commenting on how striking it is to see his big pink ears and brown eyes standing out against his pure white body.

This very rare animal was seen for the first time in spring. It is the only one in its herd to be entirely covered in white. The zoo also explained that deer have been living in its enclosure for several years now.

Some of the longest-serving employees also remember seeing a white deer in the same area in the 1990s. You should know that approximately 1 in 1,000 fawns suffer from leucism. However, those who are affected do not always have complete discoloration.

White Deer Can See Skeletal Deformities

However, you should know that leucism does not only cause a difference in pigmentation. “Some deer with leucism have skeletal malformations that can shorten their lifespan, but these are not present in the zoo's white fawn,” explains the North Carolina Zoo.

This young white deer will therefore be able to “enjoy a relatively normal life in the safety of his zoo herd”. So far, he seems to be doing well. It is indeed difficult to closely monitor a wild animal that has only been seen a few times.

Additionally, white-tailed deer are crepuscular. They are therefore most active at dawn and just after dusk. Visitors are not in the zoo at these times. Instead, zoo rangers have the best chance of seeing the magnificent white-tailed deer. They patrol the property 24 hours a day.

Source: The News & Observer