An “intriguing and unusual animal” came to the Wildlife Welfare Org SA Inc (WWO) in south Australia the other day. A rare, all-white penguin (now named Pearl) was discovered dehydrated and underweight on a Hayborough beach before the rescue center took the little penguin in.
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“Yes, this bird is white, or the correct term for this lack of colour is leucistic,” wrote WWO in its post announcing the arrival of the rare bird. “Leucism is a genetic peculiarity, due to a recessive gene which gives the white colour to fur or feathers. This is different to albinism where the feathers are pure white and the eye has no colour – usually pink or blue.”
WWO says this is the first leucistic penguin they’ve ever seen. They later posted again, announcing the staff had named the little penguin Pearl. Pearl is recovering but not out of the woods yet.
See the rare white penguin here:
Here’s an update the rescue center posted on Pearl: