Kangaroo born at New York zoo with all-white fur due to rare mutation

Jan. 20 (UPI) -- A red kangaroo born at a New York zoo is drawing attention for a highly unusual feature: its all-white fur.

The Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville said the joey born recently to parents Rosie and Boomer was removed from its mother's pouch for a medical inspection late last week, and zookeepers were shocked to see its fur was completely white.

The zoo said the coloration was the result of by a rare mutation called leucism, which causes a partial loss of pigmentation. The zoo said the baby's eyes have black pigmentation, meaning the animal is leucistic rather than albino.

"We are not aware of any leucistic red kangaroo in the United States, proving just how rare this occurrence is," the zoo said in a Facebook post.