It was all joy and excitement at the Maasai Mara National Reserve after tour guide Abdelrahman Hassanein spotted a rare albino zebra.
Hassanein noted that despite being at the park for over five years, he had never seen such a beautiful animal.
According to the tour guide, it was rare to see the rare albino zebra due to the extensive space the Mara stood on.
“This is an extremely rare sighting. I have been a guide in the Maasai Mara for five years, and this is the first time I have managed to capture it. It was very exciting,” the tour guide stated.
Tira the polka-doted Zebra photographed at Masai Mara in 2019.
Photo
NatGeo
The animal was seen grazing alongside other zebras, oblivious to the tourists’ excitement.
Notably, it lacked melanin pigmentation that results in a white or pale-coloured coat and some pinkish features.
According to National Geographic experts, leucism makes the zebra unusually pale, with pinkish eyes.
The condition also affects other animals in the kingdom; with time, some animals may grow their usual colours.
In September 2019, a rare polka-dotted zebra foal was photographed in Kenya, causing a fuss in the tourism sector.
Nicknamed Tira, the zebra was attractive due to its unique coat compared to other species. However, Tira often migrates to neighbouring Tanzania with its mother for pasture.
On February 23, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza revealed plans to increase tourism earnings by Ksh425.4 billion by December 2023.
She explained that the government would capitalise on cruise, sports & culture, and adventure tourism to increase earnings.
“My department will focus more on domestic and regional tourism promotion,” the CS added.
Tourism CS Peninah Malonza during vetting in Parliament on October 19, 2022.
Photo
The National Assembly
