Albino Animals

More photos from my natural history museum foray.

Know what? Life is hard for albino animals. Stripped of their natural pigment, they typically have a hard time eluding predators. Photosensitivity is also an issue. And because their eyesight tends to be poor, they have an equally hard time procuring food, safety, and other essentials. These facts make albinos a hard sell at singles' clubs, too. And so, as a result, it's rare to actually stumble upon, say, a pigment-free catfish or raccoon. "Natural selection's a bitch," quoth the albino lemur.

It's a little different for human beings with albinism, though. In the human realm, the issue isn't physical survival - it's social inclusion...which is survival, really. Some people think albinos (both humans and animals) are beautiful, ethereal and otherworldly. I happen to be one of 'em.