Newly released photographs showcase the only known albino giant anteater in existence, estimated to be at least one year old. Alvin, as he was named, was initially encountered by researchers from the Anteaters and Highways Project (AHP) in December 2022.

Brazil's Wild Animal Conservation Institute (ICAS) established the AHP with the aim of focusing on studying anteater-vehicle collisions. The remarkable discovery took place on a ranch situated in Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state.

Discovery of the Albino Anteater

In Mato Grosso do Sul, a unique albino anteater named Alvin was recently discovered. As per the report from Folha De S. Paulo, Alvin is believed to be the only known albino giant anteater on Earth with its light-colored fur and reddish eyes. The significance of this finding lies in the potential insights it could provide regarding the impact of deforestation in the cerrado on this species.

The discovery, which occurred in August of this year, has sparked the interest and involvement of researchers from the Institute for the Conservation of Wild Animals (ICAS), who have initiated a scientific study to investigate the animal's adaptation to the cerrado habitat.

Alvin, who is merely eight months old, was found by workers on a private farm located approximately 330 km from the state capital, Campo Grande, in Três Lagoas. During this stage of its life, Alvin was being carried on the back of its mother, as is typical for giant anteaters, with the female providing care to the offspring for up to ten months.

Interestingly, the mother exhibited the typical characteristics of a giant anteater, including grayish fur that aids in camouflaging the animal within the vegetation of the Cerrado.

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Alvin Appears Thriving in the Wild

AHP posted new photos of Alvin on their Facebook page, which shows that the white anteater now measures 4.9 feet (1.5 meters) long and weighs 31 pounds (14 kilograms). AHP representatives noted that the white anteater is now over 1 year old and is not far from being fully grown so they attacked a second GPS vest on him after outgrowing the first one.

According to Live Science, Alvin has an albinism genetic condition that caused his white appearance as his skin could not produce melanin that gives color to the skin, fur, feathers, scales, and eyes.

Albino creatures appear completely white with pink eyes that are both sensitive to light, resulting an impaired vision that makes them susceptible to sunburn. Both parents must have the gene for albinism to produce an albino offspring as it is a recessive trait.

Given its supposed disadvantages in the wild and AHP finding a corpse of a juvenile male albino giant anteater in 2021, Alvin seems to be thriving well. Alvin and the deceased albino anteater are not directly related but it could mean that the gene pool has been decreased by inbreeding.

Researchers suspect that there must be an inbreeding between the anteater population due to the destruction of their natural habitat brought about by human deforestation. The anteater is currently listed as a Vulnerable species under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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Check out more news and information on Albinism in Science Times.