Rare Albino Panda Photographed Roaming the Wild in China

An albino panda has been spotted in the wild for the first time ever. 

An infrared camera at the Wolong National Nature Reserve in China's Sichuan province captured an image of the rare animal last month, reserve officials said Saturday.

"The panda looked strong and his steps were steady, a sign that the genetic mutation may not have quite impeded its life," said researcher Li Sheng, who added that the panda is likely just 1 or 2 years old.

Albinism prevents animals from creating melanin to color their skin and eyes. That means albino animals often struggle to survive in the wild because they can't camouflage with their white appearance and pinkish eyes.

Their eyes also are incredibly sensitive to light, making their eyesight poorer than average. 

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