A rare albino flapshell turtle that resembles melted cheese has recently gone famous on social media. In West Bengal, India, this unusual yellow critter was saved. Continue reading to learn more!
When a farmer in the hamlet of Sujanpur in Odisha’s Balasore district was working in his field, he saw the strange turtle. He then took it home and gave it to forest officials, who called conservation specialists later.
Experts believe it is a two-year-old adult albino turtle, which is highly unusual. “An albino turtle has been discovered for the first time in Odisha and the second time in India,” Siddhartha Pati, executive director of the Association for Biodiversity Conservation, told the reporters.
Another albino turtle was discovered by residents in Sindh a few years ago, according to Susanta Nanda of the Indian Forest Service. She also included a video and a photo of the turtle in her post.
“Albinism is a congenital illness characterized by full or partial lack of tyrosine pigment,” Siddhartha Pati said of the condition. “Occasionally, a mutation in the gene sequence occurs, or there is a tyrosine shortage,” he explained.
The photos of this brilliant yellow turtle went viral after being published on Twitter on October 27. They made a small tremor throughout the globe. People started comparing it to cheese since it appeared to be a slice of melted cheese.
Other South Asian nations where this flapshell turtle may be found include Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
This rare albino turtle has now been reintroduced into the environment.
