Curiosity magnets

Albinism is a rare genetic condition that can elicit unwanted attention.

- Bob Brockie

Albino hedgehogs are a rarity, which means they often come to the attention of local newspapers and their photographers.

In July 1931, the NZ Herald reported an albino hedgehog in New Plymouth that was "white, but perfectly normal in all respects. Seen abroad by daylight and still at liberty." In January 1938, the same paper reported another fully grown pure white albino with pink eyes in the garden of a Mr Roberts in New Plymouth.

I have looked through a number of New Zealand newspapers and found albino hedgehogs reported on 27 occasions in the North Island.

A remarkable thing about these figures is that 23 of the 27 albino hedgehogs were from Taranaki.

Google Images shows photos of up to a thousand albino hedgehogs in Britain and Continental Europe, but they seem to be scattered at random, not crowded anywhere. Taranaki is exceptional.