We have seen nature’s wrath. We have also seen her immense beauty and more often than not we have been spellbound. From the crystal clear waters of Dawki river to the painting-like picturesque skies we witness every other day, nature never fails to surprise us!
And now, in an addition to all the spectacular things that nature has gifted us, a rare bright yellow turtle has been found and rescued in West Bengal’s Burdwan recently. According to NDTV, the colour of the turtle might be due to a “genetic mutation or congenital disorder due to the absence of tyrosine pigment”.
This is the second time this year that a yellow turtle has been found. According to The Indian Express, a similar incident occurred in Sujanpur village located Odisha’s Balasore district in July where a small yellow turtle was rescued.
Indian Forest Services Officer Debashish Sharma took to Twitter to post pictures of the turtle. It has been identified as an Indian Flapshell.
Have a look at the tweet here:
Today a Yellow Turtle was rescued from a Pond in Burdwan,WB. It's one kind of a rarely occuring Flapshell Turtle. @ParveenKaswan @SanthoshaGubbi @RandeepHooda @rameshpandeyifs pic.twitter.com/enTyNAkxmP
— Debashish Sharma, IFS (@deva_iitkgp) October 27, 2020
It’s an albino kind whose peculiar yellow colour is may be bcoz of either some genetic mutation or congenital disorder due to absence of tyrosine pigment. @SudhaRamenIFS @drqayumiitk @wiiofficial1 @moefcc @susantananda3 @mvraoforindia pic.twitter.com/Yfhdu3D06t
— Debashish Sharma, IFS (@deva_iitkgp) October 27, 2020
This is the second incident in the recent past when Yellow Flapshell Turtle has been found. Before this one Yellow Flapshell turtle was found in Balasore, Odisha. Still not very clear whether a new species or albinism or mutant albino. https://t.co/hTL062qN5B
— Ramesh Pandey IFS (@rameshpandeyifs) October 27, 2020
People on the internet were left stunned by the picture. While many called it “beautiful”, a few others mistook it for various food items!
Wow.. this is the first time I am seeing this colour.. beautiful it is ❤️❤️
— Vanishree (@Vanishr37017941) October 27, 2020
The unique wildlife you share, shows how precious the web of biodiversity is. Thank you.
— Grace van Thillo🌍 (@gvthillo) October 27, 2020
Tell me WHY I first thought this was a cheese covered burger patty and not a turtle https://t.co/ISOEi4Ozbj
— Madelyn ✨ (@MaddiL0VESyoux) October 27, 2020
Nature at it's unique! https://t.co/oxPMxzhmvr
— Bhavya Sharma (@Bhavya3220) October 27, 2020
Ek second ke liye laga kachori h 😭 https://t.co/Uj8yPjh8bM
— Sam (@Sammohit_) October 27, 2020
for a moment i thought its a turtle cake 😂 https://t.co/MvKISnSWxf
— SRK Ka FAN 🏹 (@LionHeartSRKian) October 28, 2020
Euuumaa yr to annde jaisa lag raha hai… So smooth and shiny texture of skin.. 😍, and yellow is my favorite color 🤩
— Tanu🌠 (@Jaishre86308357) October 28, 2020
There were also some who highlighted that the turtle probably suffers from albinism, which reduces the amount of melanin in an organism.
Albinism is a widespread phenomenon across the animal kingdom, caused by the lack of the enzyme Tyrosinase which reduces the amount of melanin in an organism. https://t.co/pthKVv6YSV
— Turtle Survival Alliance INDIA (@TSAINDIAPROG) October 27, 2020
Thank you for tagging me. This is the yellow morph of albino Indian flapshell. Not really rare. Check this explanation here, even though this is about the old news of similar morph from Odisha, the explanation remains the same- https://t.co/vtqXijFCsd
— Sneha Dharwadkar (@Herpomania) October 27, 2020
Imagine spotting this gorgeous reptile swimming in blue water against lush green aquatic plants. What a sight it would be!