Super Rare Albino Turtle Found In India

A super rare albino turtle has been found in a village in India.

The yellow-coloured turtle was found near Balasore and has caused a stir with local residents.

However, while the turtle unusual-looks have proved to be a talking point, it's albinism could actually be a major problem for the little dude.

Experts have said its colour means it lacks the natural camouflage that a turtle's shell usually provides meaning it could be more vulnerable to predators.

Resident wildlife warden Prakash Mardaraj has said the albino animal is highly uncommon.

He said: "It's a very rare species. Albinism is a congenital disorder, characterised by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes.

"[This is caused by an] absence or defect of tyrosine - an enzyme involved in the production of melanin in body."

Wildlife warden Bhanoomitra Acharya said: "The whole shell and the body of the rescued turtle is yellow. This is a rare turtle; I have never seen one like this."

Photos of the turtle have picked up plenty of attention online, with one video showing the turtle swimming about in some water racking up almost 30,000 views.

The turtle is now being handed to animal welfare workers.

Earlier this year, the world's only known living albino orangutan - named Alba - was spotted in the wild.

Alba was taken in by conservationists in 2017 after she was found locked away in a cage and being kept as a pet by residents of the Indonesian region of Borneo, Kalimantan.

The team from The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) then spent almost two years helping Alba to recuperate before she was released into the Borneo rainforests in December 2018.

Indra Exploitasia, the environment ministry's director of biodiversity conservation, said: "After we learned that she can build nests, forage independently and is no longer dependent on human assistance we concluded that she can survive in the forest."

And it seems as though Alba has gone from strength to strength and was spotted in the wild in March.

Indra added: "I requested the post-release monitoring (PRM) team - consisting of staff from the National Park Authority and the BOS Foundation - to continue observing Alba for the next three months.

"We really want to ensure that Alba can thrive and live independently in this national park."