WHITE BUFFALO CALF BORN AT ANCHAL

WHITE BUFFALO CALF BORN AT ANCHAL

 white buffalo calf that born at Anchal courtesy:deccan chronicle

It is important to notice that the calf of a water buffalo should genetically have had a black coat. White buffaloes are extremely rare , veterinarians say one in ten million — and so, the calf born at Anchal Puttayam in Kollam district on Friday morning 10^th feburary , has become an instant celebrity.  Assistant Director of Animal Husbandry Department B. Aravind says there is no previous formal record in Kerala or neighbouring States of the birth of a white buffalo. The calf’s mother was pregnant when dairy farmer K. Sharafuddin purchased it from Anchal a few months ago. This was the animals third delivery and upon seeing a white peoples thought that the calf was ill and would not survice 24 hours. But, owner sharafuddin got touch with vetenary experts. Dr. Aravind who examined the female calf says it is in perfect health. Only tip of its tail has black hair. Dr. Araving told that if a rare genetic condition is the cause of this calf being born white, it can turn brown as it grows, but if it is an albino the color will remain white throughout its life. Ususally white buffalo(bison) is considered a good symbol by native americans. Some of them even pray to these animals.

Genetics of white Buffalos

Geneticists who know about bison are amazed at the long odds to have so many white creatures coming back, for such a recessive gene to have so much prominence again. And they're zeroing in on some significant factors. Several possible causes could be hyping the chances of the recessive gene to be present in bison calves: the impact of exposure to radiation, some type of chemical exposure or some natural accident in the process of cell-duplicating DNA. White bison have been considered so rare and special that it carried high spiritual significance to the Lakota people. And members of the tribe are looking to a spiritual explanation for the significant rise in the numbers of white bison, saying that it signifies a need for people to unify and settle differences. On the other hand, some native peoples are suspicious of the efforts to breed white bison as being a way to exploit their religious beliefs and practices. Those practices assert that white bison are the sacred spirit of the White Buffalo Calf Woman who first appeared 2,000 years ago during a plague of starvation for the Lakota people.

courtesy : The Hindu(Ignatius Pereira), Science Buzz

                                                                      Prof John Kurakar