A fully albino giant panda has been caught on camera at a Chinese nature reserve in what is believed to be a world first.

Researchers released an image of the all-white bear walking through a forest in Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan province.

It was photographed in mid-April by an infrared motion-triggered camera installed 2,000 metres above sea level by scientists in December last year.

Researchers who studied the picture later concluded the adolescent bear’s white hair, white claws and red eyes were hallmarks of albinism, a rare genetic mutation that causes a lack of the skin pigment melanin.

It is thought to be the first documented sighting of an albino giant panda.

The bear appeared to be “physically strong with a steady gait”, indicating the condition “is not affecting its normal life”, said the Wolong National Natural Reserve Administration in a statement.

Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Show all 19 1 /19 Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Alligator From Alligator Bay zoo in Beauvoir, France AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Gorilla Photo dated 14 September 2003 shows 40-year-old Copo de Nieve (Snowflake), the only albino gorilla in the Barcelona zoo, Spain. Zoo specialists said that the gorilla was suffering from leather cancer and that his life expectancy is of about three months. AFP PHOTO/CESAR RANGEL (Photo credit should read CESAR RANGEL/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Wallaby Albino wallaby in a zoo in mother's pouch Bergamo, Italy AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Panda Spotted in China's Wolong National Nature Reserve on 26 May 2019 AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Python From Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Albino squirrel in Louth Stephen Plant Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Tiger An albino tiger remains in its cage in the house where 15 members of the Beltran Leyva brothers cartel were arrested in Alvaro Obregon district, Mexico City, on October 20, 2008. The detainees, 11 of which are Colombian, were presented to the press on October 19, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Ronaldo Schemidt (Photo credit should read Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Porcupine Albino porcupine from the Kamla Nehru zoo in Ahmedabad, India AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Albino squirrel in Louth Stephen Plant Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Albino squirrel in Louth Stephen Plant Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Hedgehog An albino hedgehog from a zoo in Sochi, Russia AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Peacock Not technically an albino, the white peacock in the Nehru Zoo in Hyderabad, India AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Gorilla MADRID, SPAIN: (FILES) -- File portrait taken 26 May 1997 shows Copito de Nieve (Snow Flake) the only albino gorilla held in captivity at Barcelona zoo. Spanish animal lovers are facing up to an emotional farewell to Copito de Nieve fighting a losing battle with skin cancer at Barcelona zoo. Copito has been at the zoo since 1966 and is believed to be aged between 38 and 40. Catalan primatologist Sabater Pi found the gorilla in 1966 in the forest of Nko, in Guinea. AFP PHOTO DOMINIQUE FAGET/FILES (Photo credit should read DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Squirrel Albino squirrel in Louth Stephen Plant Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Wallaby Albino wallaby in a zoo in mother's pouch Bergamo, Italy AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Peacock Not technically an albino, the white peacock in the Nehru Zoo in Hyderabad, India AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Zebra Albino zebra in Nairobi's national park AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Tortoise A baby Hermann's Tortoise from the Turtle Valley animal park in Sorede, France AFP/Getty Albino animals: squirrels, gorillas, hedgehogs and more Alligator A baby albino alligator in the Sao Paulo aquarium, Brazil AFP/Getty

Scientists were unable to establish the panda’s sex from the photo but believe it to be between one and two years old.

The discovery of the young bear “indicates that there is a ‘whitening’ mutant gene in the giant panda population in Wolong” that could lead to more albino cubs in the reserve in southwest China, according to a researcher.

The genetic mutation “usually has no significant effect on animal activity and reproduction”, said Li Sheng, a bear specialist at Peking University School of Life Sciences.

But the albino cub photographed is extremely rare as the mutation is recessive – meaning it can only be inherited if both parents carry the gene – and there are fewer than 2,000 giant pandas remaining in the world.

Researchers are to install more cameras in the area in the hope of capturing further footage and tracking the bear’s development.

"It we can photograph its offspring, it will have even greater researcher value," Wolong nature reserve's statement added.