Leucistic Impala

Leucism is a strange anomaly that occurs in the animal kingdom when pigment of a certain animal doesn’t develop properly, and the result is and animal that is all white in colour. It is common in birds, but I have not seen in too much in mammals. We know of the white lions that are found in the timbavati area, but I have never seen it occur in herbivores. So it was with great surprise that this impala lambing season produced a cute, dainty little impala lamb that was quite different from his cousins, he was all white!! At first we witnessed the herd shunning him and trying to avoid him, but gradually it seemed that he was excepted into the herd. Usually animals like these do not last long in the wild, as they are shunned and consequently predated upon Only time will tell what happens to this strange but fascinating impala..

Posted: Exeter by Chris Renshaw, Date: 1 May 2008