Wildlife photographer and Nikon Ambassador Roger Brendhagen happened to catch this rare creature on camera in its beautiful natural surroundings. The experienced Swedish photographer is no stranger to encountering unique wild creatures; he has spent his career documenting the beautiful, unusual, and endangered species of habitats around the world.
The magnificent giant, which may be confused for an albino moose, actually has a genetic condition known as piebaldism. These rare moose have been spotted in Canadian and Swedish forests in recent years. Researchers in Scandinavia have even speculated that the population of white moose may be increasing in recent years due to fewer predators. Perhaps hunters choose not to target these special animals—in Canada, one legally cannot hunt them.
When Brendhagen came upon the moose, he was well prepared by years of photographing elusive wildlife. Working with the WWF, the photographer hopes to use his work to bring awareness to conservation efforts—particularly in Scandinavia. His photographs of the northern gannets of the Isle of Runde aim to draw attention to the dangers of trash polluting our oceans and, by extension, endangering the birds who scavenge trash to build their nests.
Arctic foxes are also a species which fascinates Brendhagen with respect to photography and conservation. The foxes are currently under great pressure in Norway and Sweden, where captive breeding programs are attempting to slowly rebuild wild populations.
'I have met thousands of moose in my life but when I met this guy in the Swedish forests, I almost lost my senses but thank God I did not lose the camera,' the native of nearby Oslo, Norway, said.
The moose's whiteness does not come from albinism but is the result of a recessive gene which can cause the animal to grow white fur with specs of brown, or - in rare cases - an entirely white coat.
The condition is known as piebaldism and has also been seen in moose in Alaska and Canada, according to National Geographic.
Unlike albinism, piebaldism, which comes under the umbrella term leucism, sees an animal losing its pigment in fur, feathers or scales but not in its eyes.
'The animal can become lighter, partly white or completely white in colour, however, eyes, beak and claws often have normal pigmentation, in contrast to albinism,' Brendhagen explained.
The magnificent giant, which may be confused for an albino moose, actually has a genetic condition known as piebaldism. These rare moose have been spotted in Canadian and Swedish forests in recent years. Researchers in Scandinavia have even speculated that the population of white moose may be increasing in recent years due to fewer predators. Perhaps hunters choose not to target these special animals—in Canada, one legally cannot hunt them.
When Brendhagen came upon the moose, he was well prepared by years of photographing elusive wildlife. Working with the WWF, the photographer hopes to use his work to bring awareness to conservation efforts—particularly in Scandinavia. His photographs of the northern gannets of the Isle of Runde aim to draw attention to the dangers of trash polluting our oceans and, by extension, endangering the birds who scavenge trash to build their nests.
Arctic foxes are also a species which fascinates Brendhagen with respect to photography and conservation. The foxes are currently under great pressure in Norway and Sweden, where captive breeding programs are attempting to slowly rebuild wild populations.
'I have met thousands of moose in my life but when I met this guy in the Swedish forests, I almost lost my senses but thank God I did not lose the camera,' the native of nearby Oslo, Norway, said.
The moose's whiteness does not come from albinism but is the result of a recessive gene which can cause the animal to grow white fur with specs of brown, or - in rare cases - an entirely white coat.
Unlike albinism, piebaldism, which comes under the umbrella term leucism, sees an animal losing its pigment in fur, feathers or scales but not in its eyes.
'The animal can become lighter, partly white or completely white in colour, however, eyes, beak and claws often have normal pigmentation, in contrast to albinism,' Brendhagen explained.
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