An albino gorilla exhibits albinism, a genetic condition resulting in a complete or partial lack of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes. This absence of color is caused by the body’s inability to produce melanin, the compound responsible for pigmentation. While albinism occurs across the animal kingdom, its appearance in a great ape species like the gorilla is an extremely rare biological event.
The Definitive Count and Historical Context
The definitive count of albino gorillas today is zero; there are no known living individuals in captivity or the wild. The entire historical record rests on a single, well-documented individual: a male Western Lowland Gorilla named Snowflake (Copito de Nieve in Spanish).
Snowflake was found as an infant in 1966 in the Rio Muni region of Equatorial Guinea after local farmers killed his mother. Primatologist Jordi Sabater Pi acquired him and transported him to the Barcelona Zoo in Spain, where he lived most of his life. His bright white fur, pink skin, and blue eyes made him a global celebrity and the unofficial mascot of Barcelona.
He resided at the zoo for 37 years, fathering 21 offspring, none of whom inherited the albino trait. Snowflake was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2001, a direct complication of his lack of protective pigmentation. He was euthanized in 2003 at an estimated age of 39, remaining the only documented albino gorilla.
The Genetics Behind Albinism in Gorillas
Albinism is an inherited condition resulting from a mutation in genes that regulate melanin production. The condition is recessive, meaning an individual must inherit the non-functional gene variant from both parents to exhibit the trait. An animal inheriting only one copy of the mutation remains pigmented and is known as a carrier.
Post-mortem genome sequencing of Snowflake revealed the precise genetic cause of his unique coloring. His albinism was identified as oculocutaneous albinism (OCA4), caused by a homozygous mutation in the SLC45A2 gene. This gene provides instructions for a protein involved in transporting substances within melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin.
The study suggested that the extreme rarity of Snowflake’s condition was compounded by inbreeding in the wild. Researchers determined his parents were likely closely related, possibly an uncle and a niece. This relationship dramatically increased the probability of the rare recessive mutation being paired, explaining why Snowflake remains the sole confirmed case among all gorillas.
Conservation Implications and Future Monitoring
The physical traits associated with albinism pose significant survival challenges in a natural habitat. The white coloration of an albino gorilla makes it highly visible against the dark green rainforest backdrop, increasing its vulnerability to predators. Furthermore, the lack of melanin in the eyes causes severe light sensitivity and reduced visual acuity, hindering foraging and navigation.
Snowflake’s death from metastatic skin cancer highlights another major risk: the absence of skin pigment leaves the animal unprotected from ultraviolet radiation. In the wild, an albino infant would face a profoundly reduced lifespan compared to pigmented counterparts, often succumbing to predation or sun exposure complications before adulthood.
The Western Lowland Gorilla, Snowflake’s subspecies, is classified as Critically Endangered due to threats like habitat loss and the Ebola virus. While albinism is not a population-level threat, the study of Snowflake’s genome provided valuable data on inbreeding and genetic diversity. Conservation efforts now focus on protecting the existing gene pool and monitoring populations to ensure genetic health, including tracking carriers for rare genetic traits.