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Rarity in nature: White fox discovered near Munich!
A rare snow-white fox was discovered near Munich. Nature photographer Dominik Reigl documented the extraordinary sighting.
Rarity in nature: White fox discovered near Munich!
Near Munich, a nature photographer discovered a true rarity that is causing a stir: a snow-white fox. The photos taken by photographer Dominik Reigl during one of his exploration tours show the animal in its natural environment, roaming through tall grass and along a corn field. Among experts, this sighting is considered a “real rarity”. Heinz Sedlmeier, managing director of the State Association for Bird and Nature Conservation (LBV), explains that this fox is neither an arctic fox nor an albino. Rather, it is an animal with a special pigmentation disorder known as leucism. This genetic defect results in a completely white coat color and pink skin, while the eyes can typically be blue or light brown.
The discovery took place at the end of July when Reigl saw the animal at dusk. He was about to abandon the tour when he came across the fox, the sight of which immediately captivated him. The images he made available to the LBV thrilled not only experts but also the public. It is important to emphasize that the animal's exact location will not be published for conservation reasons.
A rarity with challenges
The animal protection organization Peta expresses concern that this unusual fox could become prey. According to Peta specialist Peter Höffken, the animal's eye-catching appearance could spark interest among hunters in the region. Peta has already appealed to the Munich-Land hunters' association and surrounding regions to protect the fox and its fellow foxes and to allow them to live unmolested. PETA criticizes fox hunting in general and sees no biological or health reasons for hunting this animal population that is worthy of protection.
Leucism itself, a defect mutation, leads to a lack of melanocytes, which causes the remarkable fur coloration. Interestingly, this phenomenon is not limited to foxes; it also occurs in other animals, such as certain crows. But while these mutations are more common in other species, complete white coloration remains extremely rare in foxes, underscoring the importance of this discovery.
A look at leucism
The exact way leucism works comes from genetic mutations that affect the development of melanocytes - the cells responsible for pigmentation. Mutations in various genes, such as EDNRB or PAX3, influence embryonic development and can lead to different manifestations. Even though many leucistic animals can have health problems, there are always healthy specimens that appear in nature as fascinating creatures.
The sighting of this snow-white fox could serve as a harbinger of greater public awareness of both the beauty of our natural world and the challenges that come with it. The LBV and animal protection organizations such as Peta work together to ensure that such extraordinary animals are not only admired, but also respected and protected.
It remains to be seen how the situation surrounding this particular fox will develop. Let us hope that the voices of animal rights activists are heard and that this remarkable representative of his species can live a long, undisturbed life.
For further information and details about the sighting and the topic of leucism, you can read the articles from World, South Germans and Wikipedia be visited.