An albino-born baby elephant has thrived in the wild despite facing problems caused by its pigmentation.
A rare calf was born in April in Maasai Mara, Kenya.
One wildlife photographer captured it on camera and discovered its unusually pink skin pigmentation, but it is said to be thriving nonetheless.
Mostafa Elbrolosy, a ranger who runs a hunting camp, said he had heard of the elephant’s birth but was surprised to see it with his own eyes.
He said: ‘It was a rare sight.
‘These rare creatures are always most appealing to any wildlife photographer, and they have the opportunity to view and photograph them like a dream.
‘When I lived in Maasai Mara, running my cozy camp here, I received a radio report about a female elephant giving birth to an albino.
‘I finished my work, packed my camera, and went looking for it with one of our guides.
‘We got a surprise in the afternoon after a long search; only very few people came to see it because no one expected it to be an albino.
‘I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to see and photograph this extremely rare baby.’
Elbrolosy said the newborn calf is extremely rare and thrives despite the harsh sunlight it is not suitable for.
‘It is very well surrounded and protected by the herd, trying to feed from her mother and walking with her.
‘He was only eight hours old.
‘We are delighted to see such a wonderful sight.’
Albinism is caused by a lack of pigmentation in the skin and often results in pale skin layers and pink, pigmented eyes.
This condition can also cause poor vision, leading to blindness as the calf gets older.
Many elephants have unpigmented patches behind their ears, but their kind can often reject true albinos due to their unusual appearance.