BEAUMONT, Texas — It was a historic day for the people at Gator Country as four baby albino alligators were added to the family.
The original owner of the rare reptiles in Labelle contacted Gator Country because he didn't want them.
There are only 146 of these in the entire country.
12News looked into the science behind these baby albino alligators.
"They are born with a lack of melanin in their genetic system," said Gator Country team member Eddie Hanhart.
Hanhart says the albino gators were born from normal parents that have the albino gene.
"So with that lack of melanin that doesn't give them the skin color the darkness in their scales, their eyes, all over their face," he said.
The experts at Gator Country say the biggest concern the gators have is the sun. If they get too much of it they can burn and it could possibly lead to death.
With only 146 of them in the country, the crew is making sure to keep the reptiles safe and comfortable.
"These guys only knew this type of moss for the first six days of their life. So we didn't want to throw them in a big thing of water and have them freak out. So we made them a little marsh," Hanhart said.
He says you have to wait until they're three-years-old to find out the sex of the gators, but the rescue is hoping Southeast Texans can help name them.
"We are very very excited to be able to show all these beautiful animals off here at Gator Country," said Hanhart.
Gator Country is having a free admission weekend August 24-25 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.