In 2020, Vladimir Burkanov, a marine-mammal biologist, shared a uncommon and strange discover: an albino fur seal pup on Tyuleny Island, a small and uninhabited Russian island within the Sea of Okhotsk. The photographs of the adorably sad-looking pup have began recirculating, and individuals are flooding Burkanov’s unique put up with feedback.
Within the 2020 put up, Burkanov writes: “‘Ugly duck’ – albino fur seal is uncommon occasion. They extra seems to be [sic] purple than white. It is a clear albino with none pigmentation even in eyes.” Commenters appear extraordinarily involved that the seal colony would reject the infant, or that it wouldn’t survive within the wild. Because the put up is 4 years outdated, although, what the folks really need is an replace.
To this point, there isn’t a replace. Subsequently, probably the most anybody can do is watch the uncommon footage and hope this little man or gal made it to maturity.
Watch an albino fur seal pup in a large colony of traditional-colored fur seals right here:
Although many involved commenters notice that the albino child seems to be “unhappy,” this can be a traditional case of anthropomorphism. The younger pup has no cause to know that it’s completely different or in danger attributable to its gentle coloration.
It’s potential, although, based mostly on a second put up from Burkanov about one other albino fur seal that his colleague photographed in 2017, that albino seals have problem seeing. Subsequently, this pup might look “unhappy” as a result of it’s squinting or struggling to see the photographer.
