A white Iberian lynx, believed to be the first of its kind ever documented, has been spotted in the mountains of Jaén in southern Spain. The sighting of the rare, leucistic wildcat is being celebrated as a landmark success for the conservation of the Iberian lynx, a species once on the verge of extinction.

A video captured by Spanish wildlife photographer Angel Hidalgo shows a lynx with an unusually pale, cream-coloured coat, while retaining the typical features of its species -- sharp eyes, dark ear tufts, and the signature facial ruff.

"I've been setting up cameras for years, with many failed attempts and long hours of work. But this time, nature gave me something truly unique, Hidalgo said.

Experts who examined the footage confirmed the lynx has leucism, a rare genetic condition that leads to partial pigment loss. Unlike albinism, which causes a total absence of color and often impacts vision, leucism allows for normal eye pigmentation and overall healthy development.

The sighting has drawn significant interest from conservationists and nature enthusiasts.To protect the animal, authorities have kept the exact location of the sighting under wraps, especially as the lynx's unique appearance has already gone viral online. 

Source:Ndtv