Imagine yourself spending a relaxing day at a lake when suddenly you spot a bottlenose dolphin. Wow! A dolphin in a lake? Now that’s definitely not something that you see every day. But if that scenario wasn’t enough, onlookers at Lake Calcasieu in Louisiana have spotted an extremely rare pink dolphin!
“Pinkie,” as the dolphin is affectionately called, has become a bit of a celebrity, with visitors trying to snap photos of her whenever she makes an appearance. Not too surprisingly, scientists have also taken a keen interest in Pinkie and her very unusual colouration. The going theory is that she’s albino, meaning she has a genetic disorder that results in a lack of pigmentation. But while other albinos are typically whiter, Pinkie is a bright pink!
(video at bottom of article)
Here’s what most people picture when they think of bottlenose dolphins…
But one day, this extremely rare pink dolphin was spotted by a charter boat captain in Lake Calcasieu! The waters at the lake are slightly salty, making it comfortable for dolphins.
She has been named “Pinkie!”
Aside from her colouration, she’s a “normal” dolphin. Here she is swimming happily with another dolphin.
Although many believe that Pinkie is an albino, it may not necessarily be the case. There are actually dolphin species in South America and Asia that are naturally pink. Bottlenose dolphins may also have some pink on their bellies.
Watch the video below to see Pinkie in action, and let us know what you think!
Source: LittleThings
