Watch a rare pink albino elephant baby playing by a waterhole in adorable footage

Heartwarming footage has captured a rare pink elephant playing with another calf in a waterhole in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Elephants are typically gray, but this small calf, which belongs to the genus Loxodonta, has pink skin and fair hair, as a result of an inherited condition called albinism — a genetic disorder that stops the production of a molecule called melanin that is responsible for pigment in the eyes, hair and skin.

The rare condition "only occurs once in every 10,000 births" of wild mammals, Theo Potgieter, a safari operator who captured the image of the young elephant, said in an email to Live Science.

Albino elephant playing with another calf. — The calf is said to be around a year old according to the photographer. (Image credit: Theo Potgieter)

According to Potgieter, the elephant is estimated to be around 1 year old, with sightings reported of the young male since late last year.

Albinism is a rare condition because it is recessive and only presents itself when both parents carry the mutated gene and pass it onto their offspring.

Photo of the side profile of a pink albino elephant.

Elephants are typically gray, but this small calf, which belongs to the genus Loxodonta, has pink skin and fair hair. (Image credit: Theo Potgieter)

The condition causes poor eyesight. The lack of pigment interrupts the development of the eyes, which can affect an animal's ability to forage for food or successfully track and hunt prey. The absence of coloured fur, scales or skin, meanwhile, means they often lose their ability to camouflage against their environment, making it harder to hide from predators or prey.

Albino pink elephant stands between two elephants — The calf has seemingly been fully accepted among the herd in the national park. (Image credit: Theo Potgieter)