9 hours ago
Rare one-in-100,000 albino squirrel spotted in Petts Wood garden
A rare one-in-100,000 albino squirrel has become a regular visitor to a south London garden.
Married photography duo Giedrius and Dalia Stakauskas say they've become obsessed after spotting the critter at their Petts Wood home.
Giedrius, from Orpington, says: "It was late morning in our back garden in Petts Wood, where activity is never in short supply - especially in spring and early summer.
"My wife had just stepped outside to top up the bird feeders when something extraordinary caught her eye.
"Perched calmly on the fence, scanning for leftover seeds and nuts, was a rare albino grey squirrel.
"She gasped 'Oh my God!' before dashing indoors to grab her camera.
"Incredibly, the squirrel hadn't moved an inch by the time she returned. With a still, almost deliberate pose, the white squirrel seemed to be waiting patiently to be photographed.
"That moment sparked a new obsession in our household. For the past ten days, we've kept a close watch.
"On five of those days, the squirrel has paid us a visit - always before late afternoon, and usually in the stillness of the morning.
The squirrel came into the couples garden. (Image: Dalia & Giedrius Stakauskas / SWNS)
"Her chosen retreat is an old apple tree, where she perches high above the ground, alert but unbothered.
"For us, these encounters have brought a new sense of magic to our garden.
"What began as a lucky moment has turned into a shared mission to photograph and protect this remarkable visitor.
"It's a reminder that even in the places we think we know best - like our own back garden - nature still has the power to surprise us, if we're paying attention."
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Albino squirrels are extremely rare in the UK, with wildlife experts estimating the odds of one being born at about one in 100,000.
There are thought to be only around 50 albino squirrels in the entire country at any given time.
They are easily identified by their white fur and pink or blue eyes, a result of a genetic condition that prevents the production of melanin.
