A wildlife photographer has made a remarkable discovery in the Munich district, capturing stunning images and video footage of an extremely rare white fox with blue eyes. According to Heinz Sedlmeier, managing director of the Bavarian Association for Bird and Nature Conservation (LBV), such discoveries are exceptionally uncommon and represent a true rarity in the natural world.

The young fox, photographed by nature filmmaker Dominik Reigl, is neither an Arctic fox nor an albino animal, as wildlife experts have confirmed. Instead, the unusual coloration is caused by a harmless genetic condition called leucism, which is a pigmentation disorder that affects the animal's normal coloring patterns while leaving the eyes unaffected.

Reigl's discovery came during what almost became an unsuccessful photography expedition. The photographer was on one of his regular exploration tours and had nearly given up for the day when he first spotted the remarkable animal during twilight hours. "I saw a small, completely white fox with blue eyes," Reigl reported, describing his initial encounter with the extraordinary creature.

Wildlife experts explain that leucism is a phenomenon relatively commonly observed in corvids, such as crows and ravens. However, the condition is extremely rare in red foxes, with only a few cases of completely white foxes documented in scientific literature. This rarity makes Reigl's discovery particularly significant for wildlife researchers and nature enthusiasts alike.

The fox's fur was not fluffy enough to be mistaken for a polar fox, further confirming that this is indeed a red fox with the rare genetic condition. Unlike albinism, which affects all pigmentation including the eyes, leucism typically leaves the eyes their normal color, though in this case, the fox displays the striking blue eyes that make it even more remarkable.

To protect this unique animal, photographer Reigl has decided not to disclose the specific location where the white fox was discovered. This precautionary measure ensures that the animal can continue to live undisturbed in its natural habitat without the potential stress that could come from increased human attention or wildlife tourism.

The discovery has generated significant interest among wildlife conservation organizations and nature photography communities. The LBV emphasizes that while the genetic condition is harmless to the animal, such rare specimens provide valuable opportunities for scientific study and help researchers better understand genetic variations in wildlife populations.