Assam CM spotlights albino hog deer sighting in Kaziranga

Recently, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the sighting of a rare albino hog deer in Kaziranga National Park, drawing attention to one of the most unusual wildlife occurrences in the country.

What is an Albino Hog Deer?

The Hog Deer is a small deer species native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, while an albino hog deer is distinguished by its white fur, pink eyes, and pale hooves due to the absence of melanin pigment.

Albinism and Its Challenges

Albinism is a genetic disorder caused by the absence or reduction of melanin, making affected animals more vulnerable to predators because of poor camouflage, increased visibility, and greater sensitivity to sunlight.

Other Albino Animals in India

India has recorded several rare albino animals, including the Gaur in the Manjampatti Valley of Tamil Nadu, an Indian Cobra in Madhya Pradesh, an albino Rhesus Macaque in Assam’s Sribhumi district, and an albino Wild Boar in the Nilgiri Hills.

About the Hog Deer

The Hog Deer belongs to the genus Axis and is endemic to the tall, moist grasslands of South and Southeast Asia, including northern India, Pakistan, and parts of Southeast Asia.

Habitat

Hog deer are commonly found in riverine grasslands, marshes, dense reed beds, swamps, and areas with thick vegetation near rivers and wetlands, where they find both food and cover.

Source: IE