Two-year-old Blondi, unique for being Germany's possible sole albino polka performer, might be stealing the show.
By Jane Park
Meet Blondi, the unique little guy residing in a hidden corner of Hendrikje Henze's garden pond. This two-year-old molch-male falls far from the usual brown hue – he's an albino.
Nestled amid 20 newt comrades and five frog buddies in a one-square-meter haven of water lilies, pond lilies, and marsh marigolds, Blondi was unaided by Hendrikje when she created the biotope in Kleinmachnow, near Berlin. Frogs, dragonflies, and newts readily accepted their new home.
One fateful day in March, while tending to the garden, Hendrikje stumbled upon Blondi floating lifelessly in the water. "I thought he was a goner," she recalls, but he managed to evade her attempt at rescue. Experts confirmed her concerns – he was indeed a rare catch.
Art protection expert, Lars Sund (35), shared his insights with B.Z, stating, "It's a rarity." Albinism, a mutation affecting skin pigmentation, results in light white skin and hair for these uncommon creatures. As an exotic find, Blondi might just be our only albino newt in the Kleinmachnow area since 2019, but specific data on albino newts' numbers isn't readily available.
Albinistic newts can be easy prey during their tadpole or young stages due to their striking color, but Blondi has shown remarkable luck in escaping these hazards so far. The dense canopy of Hendrikje's garden serves as a natural deterrent for predators like the heron, making small ponds an unappealing target.
Currently, Blondi is in the throes of mating season, and Hendrikje reports that "the other newts are accepting him just fine." With any luck, Blondi will successfully reproduce and continue his unique lineage. In June, he'll depart the pond to explore the world among stones and decomposing wood.
Blondi's unique home-and-garden environment, filled with water lilies, pond lilies, and marsh marigolds, is also suitable for pursuing his interest in gardening, as he navigates through the beautiful green landscape. Despite being an albino, Blondi's lifestyle within this biotope is thriving, with his newt comrades and frog buddies providing company while he gradually adapts to his surroundings.
