India, Sept. 11 -- A full-grown male blackbuck is usually known for its striking contrast of black-and-white - a blackish-brown coat on the upper body, white rings around the eyes, and spirally twisted horns that make it one of the most graceful antelopes of the Indian plains. But on the afternoon of May 20, 2021, researchers surveying an agricultural field along the Salavas-Kanakni road in Jodhpur were left astounded. Instead of the usual dark-toned antelope, they found a blackbuck that was entirely white. Earlier, on April 28, 2018, during a morning field visit at Sarjana Dam in Udaipur district, the same research team recorded a male nilgai, or blue bull, displaying patches of white pigmentation - a rare condition called piebaldism. More recently, on October 30, 2022, a male chinkara, or Indian gazelle, with a completely white body was sighted at Siwara village in Jalore district. Dr Hem Singh Gehlot, assistant professor, Department of Zoology, Jai Narain Vyas University, said such rare sightings are caused by a genetic condition known as albinism. "Albinism occurs due to the absence of melanin pigments, which results in an animal's skin, hair or fur turning white, often accompanied by red eyes. It is a phenomenon that makes one individual in thousands different from the rest. Such animals instantly draw attention, not only from the general public but also from wildlife experts," he said, citing their paper published recently in the Journal of Scientific Research and Reports. He added that while these animals may look extraordinary, they face a survival disadvantage in the wild. "The white coat makes them highly visible to predators, and the absence of melanin often causes eye-related problems. That is why sightings of albino ungulates in natural habitats are extremely rare." Co-researcher Narayan Lal Chaudhary said the rare colour variations instantly draw public attention and are equally significant for wildlife studies. "Such records are extremely valuable for analysing colour aberrations across species and regions. They also provide crucial insights into genetic mutations that shape wildlife populations." The albino blackbuck was later rescued by the forest department and housed at Machia Biological Park in Jodhpur, where it exhibited normal behaviour similar to other blackbucks. Likewise, the albino chinkara was shifted to Amrita Devi Udhyan in Jalore for its safety, while the piebald nilgai continued to forage in its natural wetland habitat....