Martin Morrison
24 Oct 2023
I'm dreaming of a white Christ-MOOSE: Stunning Moose with no pigment in its fur due to a rare genetic condition recorded in Sweden
The moose's whiteness does not come from albinism but is the result of a recessive gene which can cause the animal to grow white fur with specs of brown, or - in rare cases - an entirely white coat.
The condition is known as piebaldism and has also been seen in moose in Alaska and Canada, according to National Geographic.
Unlike albinism, piebaldism, which comes under the umbrella term leucism, sees an animal losing its pigment in fur, feathers or scales but not in its eyes.
'The animal can become lighter, partly white or completely white in colour, however, eyes, beak and claws often have normal pigmentation, in contrast to albinism,'