In what seems like a holiday miracle, an extremely rare white leucistic alligator, adorned with twinkling blue eyes, has been born at a Florida reptile park in Orlando on Thursday.
Gatorland, the alligator park where the reptile originated, stated in a press release that the newborn gator is among only eight documented leucistic alligators in the world. Additionally, it marks the first occurrence of a white leucistic alligator being born under human care, as reported by the park.
"Oh boy, we have some exciting news here at Gatorland," said Mark McHugh, the president and CEO of Gatorland. "For the first time since a nest of leucistic alligators was discovered in the swamps of Louisiana 36 years ago, we have the first birth of a solid white alligator ever recorded from those original alligators."
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"This is beyond 'rare,'" McHugh continued. "It is absolutely extraordinary!"
Measuring 19.2 inches (49 cm) in length and weighing 96 grams, the adorable creature, a female, emerged from her shell and slithered into the history books as one of the rare leucistic alligators, as announced by Gatorland Orlando on Thursday. She shares the occasion with her normally colored brother, both born to proud parents, Jeyan and Ashley.
As per the press release, the leucistic alligator is the most uncommon genetic variation among American alligators. It distinguishes itself from albino alligators by possessing blue eyes instead of pink and a distinct absence of pigment.
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"Leucism in alligators causes white coloration, but they often have patches or splotches of normal coloration on their skin," the statement read.
Despite its rarity in the animal kingdom due to its white coloration, the white leucistic gator is susceptible to direct sunlight and can easily experience sunburn, as clarified by Gatorland.
The park's veterinarian has said that the infant is currently in good health, successfully consuming bite-size portions of raw chicken and supplemental pellets.
The new gator is undeniably a captivating sight, but, for the time being, she will be kept away from guests to ensure her normal growth and development, as stated by McHugh. Gatorland anticipates showcasing her to the public early next year "so guests can see them, learn about them, and fall in love with them like we have."
