Rare Albino Jaguarundi Cub Found And Rescued In Colombia
For the very first time in Colombia, rescuers spotted and rescued an albino jaguarundi cub. They found the young female in Aburra Valley's metropolitan area.
Rescuers transferred the baby jaguarundi to a conservation park nearby for medical attention. The feline is entirely white and has red eyes.
Because of its albinism, its skin is unable to create the pigment found in normal jaguarundis. The regular color of this species is either gray or red-brown.
Officials cannot release the tiny, female cub back into the Colombian wild because its white fur is an obstacle to its survival. With the lack of melanin, animals with albinism cannot camouflage themselves.
They will struggle to hunt for food because their prey can easily see them. The female jaguarundi will live in a conservation park in Medellin for the rest of her life.
To rescue the cub, authorities cooperated with the volunteer fire department. She was found about four hours away from the urban area.
The range of these species extends from central Argentina to Northern Mexico through Central and South America (to the east of the Andes). They have slender and medium-sized bodies.
They are solitary felines. But they meet their fellow jaguarundis during mating season.
The conservation park shared a video of the albino jaguarundi. Let's take a look!
The little albino jaguarundi
ReutersThe cub was given medical attention.
ReutersHere's the video of the rescued cub.
Veterinarians tirelessly nursed the little creature back to health. According to one of the vets, the cub will remain captive because she's weak against predators.
Because of its albinism, authorities can't afford to release it back to the wild.
The little one is susceptible to health problems. Her albinism will be a challenge to her survival in the wild.
There are rare cases wherein albino animals can do well in the wild.
For example, a group of about a hundred albino squirrels thrived in Olney, Illinois. The local government protects white squirrels by enforcing laws that discourage drivers from hitting them.
Albino animals are not just in danger because of their living challenges. They are the target of exotic animal sellers, poachers, and hunters
Another video of the albino jaguarundi.
This is the typical color of the jaguarundi.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Education
Jaguarundis are two times the size of pet cats.
They weigh about 6 to 22 pounds. What's unique about them is their weasel-like face and an otter-like tail.
These animals are adept at swimming. Unlike domestic cats, they love water.
Vassil via Wikipedia, CC0
Jaguarundis belong to the Puma lineage.
Their range used to extend to North America. But they are now extirpated in Texas.
Occasionally, there are sightings in the area. Until now, the cats continue to live in Mexico.
It is believed that there was a small population of them in Florida after they escaped captivity in the 1940s.
Cédric Gravelle via Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
See the jaguarundi in action.
Albinism gets passed to offspring when both parents carry the recessive gene (two copies of the gene from both sides).
Pure albino animals will have pink nails, eyes, scales, and skin. This abnormality causes them to have health problems, including poor eyesight.
Since melanin contributes to the development of the eyes, the lack or absence of it doesn't allow the eyes to form properly. We hope that the little albino jaguarundi can make the most of her life, even if she's held captive at the conservation park.
