It’s believed to be the first such documented birth in recorded history, which was not noticed until recently because the herd in which the calf was born had confined itself to shady areas to stay cool and conserve water during the recent drought.

Unlike the normally dark brown buffalos roaming the Rift Valley, the albino is almost beige and stands out easily from the rest of the herd.

Senior park warden Nelly Palmeris said that its light coloring makes the calf more vulnerable to attack by predators, and by the Maasai tribe, which considers albinism to be a bad omen.

“We are just coming from a bad drought and the Maasai might associate the famine with this buffalo and kill it,” said Palmeris.

The Kenya Wildlife Service is conducting an education campaign to dispel such myths, and is providing special protection to the unique animal.

Photo: Hell's Gate National Park