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Project Noah Nature School
Megascops asio
Potentially the cutest thing I have ever seen. Tiny and all white, you can even see the red eyes.
He was rescued from a cat that had him pinned down in a driveway. He was brought to the Great Plains Nature Center, where they rehabbed him. Albino animals generally do not live long in the wild, so they keep him in a large tank with a normal Eastern Screech Owl and have him on display to teach kids about mutations.
Spotted on Nov 2, 2013
Submitted on Nov 4, 2013
24 Comments
Indeed not a helpful mutation unless living in a snowy environment, but it sure is cute!
Thanks guys! I know Gilma, at least he was saved and can be used for education now though. I still think it's awesome mutations like this occur naturally in the wild, even though the animals usually don't live long.
Shanna, so do I! I had to stare at him every time I would walk by, he was just so stinking cute!
Lovely!
O.M.G. I just want to squeal and cuddle it!
So cute!! It is too bad they do not fair well in nature... : (
Nice. though I don't care much for captive animals on this site, this is just too special
Cute! :)) Both.
so unusual..grt sharing
Wow!!
Adorable!
Thanks guys, he was pretty cool!
Beautiful Ashley!
no way!
Pretty !!
sooooooooooo sweet.....
That is so beautiful!
OMG, adorable !
Such a cutie !!!!!!! :)
I understand you position completely Ashley and wasn't at all disrespecting the Nature Center's decision or your spotting - just simply questioning... Although some research has shown wild albino and luecistic animals have a higher mortality rate and/or a shorter life span, there are also many individuals worldwide that can and have lived a normal life span and thrive. That is why I was questioning. I'm just stirring the pot and creating a dialog! I obviously don't know this animal or the circumstances behind the decision. ;)
As far as I could tell he is healthy. Wild albino animals have been studied before, and it seems to be the consensus they don't do survive long because they stick out like a sore thumb to predators. Which is exactly what happened to this guy, he was taken from a cats claws.
I personally hate taking wild animals from the wild and into captivity, but I think in this case he is better off in captivity and to be used for education. No matter what I think though, it's not my decision what happens to him, I was just visiting the nature center for a herpetological meeting.
Is there anything wrong with him now? It's a shame he has to stay in captivity if he is a healthy bird that can be added to the breeding population.
What a beauty!
Thanks for your visit and comment, much appreciated.
He's already in there, Christy ;)
Wow!! That white makes his eyes look so intense!! He's gorgeous! Although captive, he still can go in the Raptor mission! ;-)