At a nature reserve in northwest China, an infrared camera captured a rare albino camel which is believed to be the first one of its kind.

If you thought that humps are the only thing that could make camels extraordinary, think twice!

While most of us would simply be thrilled by the sight of a regular camel in its natural habitat, the staff at a nature reserve in China were privileged to spot a rare one!

Namely, an infrared camera at a nature reserve in northwest China captured a rather unique sight- an all-white camel, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the world!

The rare animal has been filmed while drinking from a puddle with a dozen brown camels at the Annanba Wild Camel National Nature Reserve in Gansu Province.

It is a member of a critically endangered species, a Bactrian camel, and is thought to be about three to four years old.

• An infrared camera at a nature reserve in northwest China filmed a wild albino camel, believed to be the first of its kind to be spotted in the world

• The staff at the nature reserve believes the camel is a Bactrian camel, about three to four years old

The camel, captured on camera on September 11, is said to be the first all-white-skinned one in the world, according to a staff member from the Gansu reserve.

The reserve explains that the white skin of the camel was visible now because the camels are shedding their fur during this time of the year.

Yet, it is unclear whether the fur of the animal would be white when grown out too.

• The rare animal is captured while drinking water from a puddle with a dozen brown camels at the Annanba Wild Camel National Nature Reserve in Gansu Province
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• The unique camel, captured on camera on September 11, is perhaps the first of its kind in the world

• The Bactrian camel is native to the steppes of Central Asia, and it has two humps on the back. The file photo shows a Bactrian camel being measured at London Zoo

Researchers are said to be investigating whether the color of the skin of the camel is a result of an external factor or gene mutations.

The Annanba reserve is the home of about one-third of all wild camels in China, and it is located between the Kumtag Desert and the Altun Mountains.

The Bactrian camels, also called the Mongolian camels, have two humps on the back, and are native to the steppes of Central Asia. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as critically endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species.

Source: www.independent.co.uk