White giraffes are spotted in Kenya and captured on video

The white giraffes, a mother and child, suffer from a condition called leucism
Footage of the giraffes was filmed in the Ishaqbini Hirola Conservacy in Kenya
Only two sightings of similar animals have been made in Kenya and Tanzania

By Sonia Rach For Mailonline

Published: 09:34 BST, 14 September 2017 | Updated: 10:05 BST, 14 September 2017

A pair of rare white giraffes, a mother and child, have been spotted in Kenya and captured on video for the first time.

The unique giraffes suffer from a genetic condition called leucism, which prevents pigmentation in skin cells and results in a white, pale colour.

Unlike albinism where there is only an absence of melanin, leucism is a condition that is caused by a reduction in multiple types of pigment.

A pair of rare white giraffes, a mother and child, have been spotted in Kenya

The giraffes suffer from a genetic condition called leucism, which prevents pigmentation in skin cells

White giraffes are spotted in the wild and filmed n the Ishaqbini Hirola Conservacy in Kenya’s Garissa county

The footage of the distinctive giraffes was filmed in the Ishaqbini Hirola Conservacy in Kenya’s Garissa county by conservationists after locals tipped them off.

Earlier this year in June, Hirola Conservation Programme (HCP) said in a blog post that the giraffes were first reported by a local villager.

They were filmed by conservationists after locals tipped them off

Rare condition often confused for Albinism

Leucism is a condition where there is loss of multiple types of pigment and results in a white, pale or patchy colour. Albinism, on the other hand, is caused by a reduction in melanin pigment alone.

The main way to differentiate the two types is through the eyes. Sufferers of albinism have a similar colour loss in hair and skin but they also have this in their eyes. Pale eyes or often pink or red eyes are common as the blood vessels show through, whereas in leucism, this is uncommon.

‘They were so close and extremely calm and seemed not disturbed by our presence.

‘The mother kept pacing back and forth a few yards in front of us while signalling the baby giraffe to hide behind the bushes.’

According to HCP, other than the video, only two known sightings have been made in Kenya and Tanzania. The very first report of a white giraffe in the wild was in January 2016 in Tarangire National park, Tanzania and the second in March 2016 in Ishaqbini conservancy, Garissa county, Kenya.

It is thought that it is the first time anyone has captured video footage of the rare sighting.

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