Pictures of rare white giraffe seen at a zoo in Africa goes viral

zainab quadri

January 28, 2016 3:18 PM

Pictures of a rare white giraffe living at Tarangire National Park in Tanzania goes viral.

Pictures of rare white giraffe seen at a zoo in Africa goes viral

Named Omo, the giraffe has a rare condition known as leucism that causes it to have a unique white coloring, much lighter and different from other giraffes.

"Omo who is leucistic, is the only white giraffe in Tarangire National Park in Tanzania," Facebook page I-Love-Africa wrote alongside photos of Omo.

"But that abnormality makes it so special and beautiful."

Wild Nature Institute founder Derek Lee told ABC News that Omo is the only leucistic giraffe as "Its condition is very rare. This is only the second record of a white giraffe in Tarangire over the past 20 years or so, among more than 3,000 giraffes in the area," he said.

Lee, who was the first to photograph the giraffe, also said the rarity and beauty of Omo's coloring however makes the giraffe a target for poaching and hunters.

Although, it is illegal to kill giraffes in Tanzania, Lee hopes that the publicity surrounding Omo's rare condition will raise awareness of the poaching issue in the area.

zainab quadri