We’ve all heard of melanistic leopards, albino pythons, and great white whales, but how about this little princess?
Born at a zoo in Tennessee, you’d have to go back to the 1970s to find the last recorded instance of a giraffe being born without spots.
Born on July 31, she is already as tall as an average NBA player, totally healthy, and content under the watchful eyes of her mother.
Brights Zoo has decided to give the young one a name in Swahili, Kipekee, Shakiri, Jamella, and Firayali, all of which mean either beautiful or unique, are being considered.
A giraffe’s spots are critical for several reasons, and the young female will give an opportunity to scientists to study the animal’s physiology without them. For starters they make for superb camouflage, even despite the animal’s unmistakable long neck.
The pattern is personal to each giraffe just as a fingerprint is to each human, and it’s thought they inherit most of it from their maternal lineage. Underneath their skin, they contain a system of blood vessels that allow them to release body heat through the center of each spot, providing much-needed thermoregulation in the heat of the African day.
MORE WILD ANIMAL MORPHS: First Scientifically Confirmed Images in 100 Years: The Awe-Inspiring, Elusive Black Leopard
“The international coverage of our patternless baby giraffe has created a much-needed spotlight on giraffe conservation,” the founder of Brights Zoo, Tony Bright, said to the local television news station WCYB.
It’s a good thing she was born in captivity, as the lack of spots would probably compromise her ability to hide from predators.
WATCH the newborn find its feet…
SHARE This Bizarre Beauty With Your Friends On Social Media…