A farmer in East India has discovered a yellow turtle which experts say is caused by albinism.
Basudev Mahapatra found this turtle when he was working in his field in Sujanpur village, Balasore district, Odisha state, India, on Sunday (7/19). He also decided to bring it home and hand it over to the authorities.
Siddharta Pati, executive director of the Association for Biodiversity Conservation, an agency that tries to protect wildlife and its habit, told CNN that this was the first time he saw a yellow turtle.
Pati explained that the color in animals is caused by albinism. "This is a congenital abnormality and is characterized by the absence of tyrosine pigments," he explained.
"It could also be due to mutations in the gene sequence or tyrosine deficiency," he added.
The rare tortoise has now been released back into the wilds of Balasore.
The species is known as the Indian flapshell tortoise. This newly discovered species is an adult, estimated to be between one and two years old.
"We often find turtles and crabs. We rescue and release back to the wild. However, this is the first time there is an albino tortoise in Odisha, "he concluded.
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