Iberian lynx with rare white fur captured on camera in Spain

An amateur photographer, Ángel Hidalgo, has captured rare footage of an Iberian lynx with nearly white fur in the wild. The animal was recorded by cameras placed in the mountainous region of Jaén, southern Spain.

Experts indicate the lynx is not an albino but likely possesses leucism, a rare genetic condition that causes a partial or near-total loss of skin and fur pigmentation without typically affecting eye color. This is a significant sighting given that the Iberian lynx typically features brown or yellowish-brown fur with dark spots.

The discovery comes amid successful conservation efforts for the species. Once on the brink of extinction, the Iberian lynx population surpassed 2,000 individuals in 2023, thanks to protection programs in Spain and Portugal. The exact location of the sighting remains undisclosed to ensure the animal's protection.