In the icy expanses of Chilean Antarctica, a photographer has recently encountered an exceedingly rare sight—a pristine, all-white Gentoo penguin at the Gabrial Gonzalez Videla Base. Typically adorned with black feathers highlighted by a few whites, this unique female Gentoo penguin was expertly filmed by photographer Huga Alejandro Harros Guerra, revealing an uncommon white plumage attributed to leucistic pigmentation.
Leucism, a genetic variation impacting coloration production in skin, feathers, or hair, was identified as the cause of the penguin’s distinctive appearance. Unlike albinism, this condition spares the typical coloring of the eyes and beak. While often genetically induced, leucism can also result from trauma, although such cases are relatively infrequent.
Residing amidst a colony of Gentoo penguins, Guerra expressed the continual awe he experiences in Antarctica, stating, “Every day, Antarctica and this beautiful place surprise us with something different.” Describing the encounter with the white Gentoo penguin as “extraordinary,” he highlighted the significance of the sighting.
Dr. Lucas Kruger, a researcher at the Chilean Antarctic Institute, explained that leucism occurs naturally and affects less than one percent of a population. Despite the uniqueness of the white plumage, it poses challenges for the penguin’s survival, as it makes her more conspicuous to predators.
Veterinarian Diego Penaloze emphasized the rarity of leucism, not only due to the infrequency of the genes involved but also because such animals are highly vulnerable to predation. He explained, “That is why cases of leucism are also very rare, because, in addition to being rare genes that are rarely seen, they are also animals that are very exposed, in the case of penguins, to being eaten easily by a predator.”
Captured on January 4 in Antarctica, the footage by Guerra showcased the white penguin navigating through a multitude of fellow penguins. Interestingly, this isn’t the first instance of a white Gentoo penguin being spotted in the colony. Approximately eight years ago, a similar rare sighting occurred, leading experts to speculate whether the recent encounter involves the same penguin or a relative.
Gentoo penguins, frequently observed near the base, are native to this region, classified as “near threatened” on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The primary reason for this categorization is the decline in population on sub-Antarctic islands. The recent discovery of the white Gentoo penguin adds a fascinating chapter to the ongoing study of this remarkable species in its natural habitat.