Two albino tapirs have been spotted on farms in the state of Mato Grosso.

The occurrences are noteworthy due to their rarity.

Biologist Dr. Ravena Mendonça, from the Federal University of Mato Grosso, said that there were only two previous records of albino tapirs in Brazil. And both had been seen in Atlantic Forest vegetation.

The new sightings were made in different biomes.

The most recent was on a farm located about 210 km from the capital Cuiabá, in the municipality of Diamantino, surrounded by Cerrado and Amazon Rainforest.

The animal was alone in the middle of a corn plantation.

Rural worker José Ronaldo Barbosa Pinheiro recorded the images with a cell phone. During the recording, he praised the beauty of the animal.

The other sighting was in a soybean plantation in Nova Mutum, 269 km from Cuiabá, also in the Cerrado.

The albino was accompanied by another tapir. And they seemed to be playing together.

The recording was also made with a cell phone by farmer Walter Becker Júnior.

Albinism occurs when there is a genetic alteration that prevents the production of melanin, the pigment that gives color to the animal's skin and fur.

And, according to Luiz Saragiotto, a biologist also from Mato Grosso, seeing an adult albino animal is very difficult because the lack of pigmentation leaves these animals more exposed to the sight of predators.

In Brazil, a large part of the tapir population lives in the Pantanal and the northern Amazon, where they are in a better conservation status. They are herbivorous animals that feed on fruits, plants, flowers, leaves, bark, and even branches.

Worldwide, there are four species of tapir: the Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris), the mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque), Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii), and the Asian tapir (Tapirus indicus), the latter being the largest tapir species, which can reach 500 kilos, according to the Tapir Specialist Group (TSG).

With solitary habits, tapirs usually walk alone or in groups of up to three individuals. Considered the largest land mammal in South America, they can weigh up to 300 kilos and measure between 1.70 and 2 meters.