Puma welcomes ultra-rare albino cub so rare he is being shielded from the public

Pumas at birth normally have a light brown or reddish fur with black flecks A Puma has given birth to an ultra-rare albino cub which is still being sheltered from the gaze of visitors at Nicaragua Zoo in Central America. Pumas at birth normally have a light brown or reddish fur with black flecks. The genetic mutation that causes the white pigmentation is rare and there are currently now only four albino pumas alive in the world. The Tomas Belt Zoo in Juigalpa announced the incredible news and the zoo’s vet, Carlos Molina, has said the cub and mum are doing well. He said: “We are taking all measures to be able to keep him as healthy as possible, together with his mother….He is healthy, his body is in good condition’. READ MORE: Chaos as monkey escapes busy UK zoo forcing visitors to hide in a restaurant The vet is yet to inspect the cub to see if it is male or female Zoo keepers have avoided contact with the small albino puma, which is growing up with its mother in a den set up in a fenced enclosure, and hope that within two months the cub will be able to receive veterinary treatment. Though the cub is healthy and eating well, Mr Molina warned that it is still early days and that albino pumas require plenty of care and are vulnerable to sunlight. The vet is yet to inspect the cub to see if it is male or female, but for now, they are making sure it gets to bond with the mother. The mother’s mate, however, is being kept in a separate enclosure, as male pumas have been known to kill their young. The Tomas Belt Zoo receives up to 60,000 visitors a year SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Trending