Europe’s First Albino Armadillo Born at France’s Beauval Zoo

A remarkable birth at the ZooParc de Beauval in Loir-et-Cher, France, has made history: a small albino female armadillo was born in May, marking the first recorded case of albinism in this species in Europe. The park’s general manager, Rodolphe Delord, described the event as “more than exceptional” and said the keepers were pleasantly surprised by the atypical birth.

The tiny armadillo, born to the couple Bola and Bolek, weighs less than a kilogram and remains with her mother. Her pale shell and red eyes are clear signs of albinism, setting her apart from the normally yellow-toned armadillos. The newborn has yet to be named.

According to the coordinator of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), such a case had never previously been observed in this species, though one or two similar instances have been reported in the United States. Another documented case involved a group of nine-banded armadillos on Mexico’s Cozumel Island in 2009.

Three-banded armadillos, native to South America, are considered highly endangered due to poaching and habitat loss and are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The birth at Beauval Zoo is not only a rare scientific occurrence but also a hopeful sign for conservation efforts, demonstrating the potential for careful breeding programs to support the survival of this unique species.

Read More : Zoo de Beauval: Une femelle tatou albinos naît, un événement exceptionnel en Europe - L'essentiel

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