If white lions and melanistic tiger are considered a rarity, what remains to be said about a golden tiger?

This majestic wild cat is as rare as it sounds, as so far it is the only one in the world with such a spectacular coat color

Naturally, when such a unique creature is captured on camera for the very first time, ever, it goes viral. The golden tiger was spotted in the Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India, by the wildlife photographer Mayuresh Hendre.

The breathtaking snaps have then aired on Twitter, after an Indian Forest Services officer, Parveen Kaswan, decided to share them.

The photos immediately sparked a debate among wildlife enthusiasts that were wondering if they are actually real since none of

golden tiger was known to live in the wild. And indeed, this magical creature is the only golden tiger captured on camera in the 21st century.

So far, it is unclear what may had caused the tiger’s spectacular color, but some think it might be the result of a recessive gene, just like ta albinism, leucism or melanism.