Erin Simon submitted this unusual video to Latest Sightings. She filmed it on the H-7, between Satara and Orpen Camps, in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Buffalo sighting
Cape buffalo are a member of the Big 5, renowned for their large herds and occasionally grumpy temperament. While on a game drive, Erin and her companions were happy to find a large herd.
However, as they watched, something unusual caught Erin’s eye. After taking a look with her binoculars, she realised they had stumbled across something very unusual.
So, she picked up her camera and began filming, perhaps thinking no one would believe her if she didn’t.
Something’s not quite right
As we join the action in her video, we see a few buffalo walking through the long, dry grass. However, on closer inspection, we realise that something is not quite right.
In their midst, we see a flash of white. This is a colour that seldom occurs naturally in the African bush, in part because it stands out so clearly.
Obscured by the larger body of one of the cows, we see it is an animal of some sort, but it takes a few moments before we get a clear view.
Eventually, we see the head. Aside from its colour, it is unmistakable as a buffalo calf, probably just a few days old.
Albino?
Most people assume this must be a rare albino, similar to the white lions occasionally spotted in this part of Kruger Park.
However, it is something a little less rare. The calf has a condition known as leucism.
In albinism, pigmentation lightens the entire body, while in leucism, some body parts retain their normal colour.
Zooming in on this calf, we can just see that the skin of its nose is dark. And it appears that its eye is also brown, whereas it would be pale were it a true albino.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
Singled out for its colour
As the calf follows its mother closely, it stands out against the tan background. While buffalo don’t necessarily rely on camouflage to avoid predators, this calf’s colour would undoubtedly make it a prime target, particularly at night.
One of the key differences between albinism and leucism is that as the animal ages, its colour gets progressively darker.
However, at the best of times, only 50% of buffalo calves survive past their first year, so this calf’s chances of survival are probably not good.
Problems closer to home
Besides the risk of being singled out by a predator, they are also frequently not accepted by their own kind. And this may be why one of its herd members butts it out of the way at one point.
Thankfully, the calf doesn’t appear to be injured and quickly regains its feet as its mother turns to check on it.
As the herd moves on, the calf soon disappears among the larger bodies of the adults.
Provided it is fully accepted by all members of the herd, their protection might prove to be its saving grace.
