poohchii (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} poohchii) wrote,@ 2004-11-19 11:03:00 |
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In search of the albino elephant in the Yara national park.
In search of the albino elephant in the Yara national park.
The 11-year-old female-nicknamed Sue-was recently spotted for the first time in 6 years. It is thought to be the only wild albino elephant in Asia.
Albino animal, which has fur, of appearance is white, but elephants hardly have any fur so you see the skin color.
Conflict
The animals cross the park boundary and venture into the village areas looking for food and water. Most elephants come into conflict with people and because of that most of them develop avoidance behavior.
They become almost no cultural. This makes observation and research into Yala's elephant population almost impossible.
Genetic Question
Why happened to albinism?
It's obviously a very rare mutation or a very rare gene.
Usually genes like albinism are recessive, so even if an animal or a person carries one of those genes it will not be expressed so you would'nt know unless you did a genetic analysis.
On the other hand, it could be a case of a genetic mutation resulting in a characteristic like albinism always being expressed.
Mutations happen because they just happen. That's why you have evolution.
Buddhism
Albino elephants have played a part in Buddhist mythology.
The white elephant has a great significance to Buddhism.
It is the God Shaman's vehicle and it's seen as an auspicious sign.
Just a curiosity
Not everybody in Yala thinks the white elephant is so important.
A local conservationist Monauree says the conflict with humans and loss of habitat are the major concerns.
"We need to focus on the conservation needs of elephants in general. So I guess [the albino elephant] could be kind of a symbol or a flagship for conservation.
Albino animal is rare so we are interested in it ordinarily, however I think it is very important to think about state of animal. Because
develop behavior of human influence many animal and plant life.
In search of the albino elephant in the Yara national park.
The 11-year-old female-nicknamed Sue-was recently spotted for the first time in 6 years. It is thought to be the only wild albino elephant in Asia.
Albino animal, which has fur, of appearance is white, but elephants hardly have any fur so you see the skin color.
Conflict
The animals cross the park boundary and venture into the village areas looking for food and water. Most elephants come into conflict with people and because of that most of them develop avoidance behavior.
They become almost no cultural. This makes observation and research into Yala's elephant population almost impossible.
Genetic Question
Why happened to albinism?
It's obviously a very rare mutation or a very rare gene.
Usually genes like albinism are recessive, so even if an animal or a person carries one of those genes it will not be expressed so you would'nt know unless you did a genetic analysis.
On the other hand, it could be a case of a genetic mutation resulting in a characteristic like albinism always being expressed.
Mutations happen because they just happen. That's why you have evolution.
Buddhism
Albino elephants have played a part in Buddhist mythology.
The white elephant has a great significance to Buddhism.
It is the God Shaman's vehicle and it's seen as an auspicious sign.
Just a curiosity
Not everybody in Yala thinks the white elephant is so important.
A local conservationist Monauree says the conflict with humans and loss of habitat are the major concerns.
"We need to focus on the conservation needs of elephants in general. So I guess [the albino elephant] could be kind of a symbol or a flagship for conservation.
Albino animal is rare so we are interested in it ordinarily, however I think it is very important to think about state of animal. Because
develop behavior of human influence many animal and plant life.
