Rather than bearing the coloring her species is known for, this orangutan’s hair was blonde and her eyes were a striking shade of blue.
According her new caretakers from the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, a medical team determined that the rescued primate has albinism — a rare genetic anomaly affecting her pigmentation.
Fortunately, despite the differences in her appearance, and the fact that she’d been captured, the rescuers are optimistic that the albino orangutan will be able to return to the wild where she belongs:
“We will continue to observe her and conduct routine health tests,” the group wrote online. “She was held captive by local residents for two days and still displays wild behaviors, meaning there is a good chance she could soon be released back to a natural habitat.”
Visit the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation's website to find out how you can help support rescues like this one.
