Mention the giant panda, is it not immediately in front of the eyes wearing a black vest, painting smoky makeup, rolling on the ground "rolling"...
But have you ever seen a "rolling" without dark circles?
On the 25th, the Sichuan Wolong National Nature Reserve Management Bureau released the first white giant panda photo.
the photo, believed to be the world's first image of an albino panda, taken in the wild, and clearly shows the all-white body and paws of the panda captured by an infrared camera around 2,000 meters above sea level in the reserve.
The image is believed to capture the world's first white giant panda, which clearly shows its form: the hair and claws are white. The photo was taken by a field infrared trigger camera at an altitude of 2,000 meters inside the reserve.
albino/ælˈbiːnəʊ/: Individuals suffering from albinism
infrared/ɪnfrə'red/: infrared
the only part of the panda's body that is not white are its eyes, which are red, the bureau said.
The panda is white all over, only the eyes are red, the relevant person of the authority said.
Experts from the Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center have confirmed that the giant panda is an albino individual, and the sex cannot be determined. However, judging by its size, it is a sub-adult or young panda, which is about 1 to 2 years old.
"a panda becomes an adult at the age of 4. one year for a panda is the equivalent of about 3.5 years for a human," said an official at the center.
"Giant pandas are 4 years old. One year of panda lifespan is equivalent to 3.5 years of a human being," the research center staff said.
Li Sheng, a member of the IUCN Bear Expert Group and a researcher at the School of Life Sciences of Peking University, introduced that the phenomenon of "albinism" is common in vertebrates, but it is relatively rare.
it is usually caused by genetic mutations in which melanin cannot be synthesized normally, with skin and body hair expressed as white, yellowish-white or light-yellow.
Albinism is caused by a genetic mutation that causes melanin to not synthesize normally, and the skin and hair are white, yellowish white, or light yellow.
genetic mutation: Genetic mutation
melanin /ˈmelənɪn/:Melanin
Albino peacock
Simple "bleaching" mutations do not affect the animal's body structure and physiological function.
simple "albinism" mutations do not affect the normal body structure and physiological functions of animals, and have no significant impact on their activities and reproduction except that they are more easily spotted in the wild and their body is more sensitive to direct sunlight.
Simple "bleaching" mutations do not affect the animal's body structure and physiological functions, nor will they affect daily activities and reproduction, but it is easier to be found in the environment, and the body is more sensitive to sunlight.
Albino lion
albino mutations can be inherited. each animal has two sets of genes from its parents.
The "albino" mutant gene is inherited. Each individual animal has two sets of genes from both parents.
only when the genes from both parents contain the same mutation do offspring show characteristics of albinism.
"Albino" mutation genes are recessive genes, and only when genes from both parents carry "albinism" mutations, offspring will show albinism characteristics.
The pandas photographed by Wolong this time show that there is an "albino" mutant gene in the giant panda regional population of Wolong.
the panda looks strong, and its steps are steady, a sign that the genetic mutation does not affect its daily life, li said.
Li Sheng said that from the photo, the individual has a strong physique and a steady gait, which also confirms from the side that the mutation may not affect the normal life of the panda.
Wolong conservation staff said they would install more infrared trigger cameras in areas where white pandas are found to observe the pandas' activities.
“if its offspring can be photographed, it will be valuable for further research .”
"If its descendants can be photographed, it will be meaningful to study it in depth for the future."
Intern: Wang Caojunru