Rare albino mink found in Colombia

Animal rescuers have discovered the first wild albino mink in Colombia in a valley in the north of the country.

According to a report by authorities on December 28, the adorable creature with white fur and pink eyes was found in the Aburra valley in poor health. It is an immature female.

The panther, or American tree cat, has only two main color forms, gray and red, with a few intermediate colors. The individual occurring at Aburra is the first case of albinism of this species reported in Colombia.

Picture 1 of Rare albino mink found in Colombia
Newly found octopus leopard.

Veterinarians have been working around the clock to help the ferrets recover. It will then be moved to a conservation park in Medellin.

"At this moment, we are unable to release the animal into the wild due to its albino status. It is at risk of several health disorders and faces many disadvantages in the wild, for example as it cannot camouflage when hunting, so the best solution for it is to spend the rest of its life in a reserve," said veterinarian Carolis Madrid.

Picture 2 of Rare albino mink found in Colombia
An adult mink with a normal coat color.

The ferret likes to live alone and usually only mates during the breeding season. Their range extends from the southern United States to South America.

In the wild, this wild cat can grow to 77 cm in length and 3.5-7 kg in weight, twice the size of a domestic cat. Their preferred prey is rodents, reptiles, fish, birds and small mammals.