World's Only Albino Giant Anteater "Alvin" Turns 1 Year, Outgrows GPS Vest

The only albino giant anteater in the world, Alvin, turns one and outgrows his GPS vest.

Alvin: The Only Albino Giant Anteater in the World

The anteater was first spotted in December 2022 on a ranch in Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state by researchers from the Anteaters and Highways Project (AHP), a multi-year investigation of anteater-vehicle incidents put up by the Wild Animal Conservation Institute (ICAS) of Brazil.

They gave the unusual creature the name Alvin.

Alvin was observed clinging to his mother's back, as is characteristic of all young giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) under the age of ten months.

AHP representatives stated in a statement provided to Live Science that the crew captured the snowy juvenile and equipped him with a GPS vest to follow his future activities.

On May 10, AHP updated Alvin's Facebook profile with fresh photos. AHP representatives posted on Facebook that the white anteater is currently 4.9 feet long and weighs 31 pounds, which indicates he is over a year old and close to maturity.

After outgrowing his original GPS vest, Alvin was also given a new one.

Albinism

Animals with albinism, a genetic disorder, are unable to produce melanin, the pigment that gives their skin, fur, feathers, scales, and eyes their color.

As a result, albinos have pink eyes and are entirely white in appearance.

Due to their extremely sensitive eyes and skin to light, those with albinism may experience vision problems and are more likely to get sunburns.

Due to the recessive nature of albinism, both parents must possess a copy of the gene.

Because of their discoloration, most albino animals face a higher danger of predation because they stand out more from their surroundings.

And it appears that this is also true with giant anteaters.

The first juvenile male albino giant anteater body ever discovered was discovered in the same location as Alvin in August 2021 by AHP researchers.

Predation marks were visible on the body.

The team will be able to determine whether the animals are connected by comparing the first albino's DNA with Alvin's DNA, she added in a report she, and several colleagues, published through Theriogenology Wild.

Inbreeding

If Alvin and the dead albino are not blood relatives, this may indicate that inbreeding has reduced the gene pool of the species, which explains why this rare trait has begun to manifest, according to the AHP representatives' letter.

The inbreeding, according to the experts, is most likely brought about by human deforestation, which has destroyed the animals' natural habitat.

On the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), giant anteaters are now classified as Vulnerable.

The team worries that even if Alvin avoids other predators, too much sun exposure could harm him.

Anteaters try to stay in the shade during the warmest parts of the day because the land-dwelling creatures are not well-adapted to withstand intense heat.

However, anteaters no longer have access to this essential shade due to deforestation, which Alvin's sensitive skin makes particularly problematic, Live Science reported.