Leucistic Antarctic Fur Seal Pup

Leucism is a condition which results in a partial loss of pigmentation that causes a pale coloration of the fir, but not the eyes. Unlike albinism which is cau...
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Leucism is a condition which results in a partial loss of pigmentation that causes a pale coloration of the fir, but not the eyes. Unlike albinism which is caused by a reduction of multiple type of pigment, not just melanin. Approximately one in 1,000 Antarctic fur seals are blondes.

The Antarctic fur seal was very heavily hunted in the 18th and 19th centuries for its pelt by sealers from the United States and the United Kingdom. By the early 20th century, the seal was regarded as commercially extinct, and perhaps completely extinct. In fact, a small population continued to exist, breeding on Bird Island in South Georgia. This colony has expanded rapidly over the course of a century. The current populations on the other Antarctic islands are believed to be off-shoots of this one colony.
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