Albinism is not a disease but a resulting from a mutation in genes controlling melanin production.

To understand why zoo genetics teams often view albinism with caution rather than celebration, we must look beyond the aesthetic and into the double helix.

Modern zoos and aquariums are no longer menageries for public display. They are . Their primary goal is to maintain healthy, self-sustaining populations of endangered species as a buffer against extinction in the wild.

Most zoo populations are small, derived from a limited number of "founder" animals. This creates a genetic bottleneck. When a rare trait like albinism appears in a small zoo population, it often signals something concerning: .