Freak of Nature Thursdays: Pink Dolphins

There are two species of dolphins that come in pink; the Chinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis chinensis) of the Pearl River Delta and the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) that can be found in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. While these dolphins are lighter in colour than their seafaring cousins, its the albino river dolphins that come in the most fantastic pink hues.

Its this rare form of albinism that resulted in a particularly pink dolphin which was recently spotted in an inland lake in Louisiana by charter boat captain Erik Rue. From the Telegraph:

“I just happened to see a little pod of dolphins, and I noticed one that was a little lighter. It was absolutely stunningly pink. I had never seen anything like it. It’s the same color throughout the whole body and it looks like it just came out of a paint booth.”

Regina Asmutis-Silvia, senior biologist with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, said: “I have never seen a dolphin coloured in this way in all my career.
“It is a truly beautiful dolphin but people should be careful, as with any dolphins, to respect it – observe from a distance, limit their time watching, don’t chase or harass it.”

Check out this River Dolphin’s moves:

*Feature image from the Telegraph.

Need some good karma? ‘Like’ us on Facebook and get more good vibes than you can poke a sharp stick at.

 

About

Nikki is an author and writer specializing in green living ideas and tips, adventure travel, upcycling, and all things eco-friendly. She's traveled the globe, swum with sharks and been bitten by a lion (fact). She lives in a tiny town with a fat cat and a very bad dog.

Check out our Books!

4 thoughts on “Freak of Nature Thursdays: Pink Dolphins

  1. Brandy Alexander

    Oh my, these are really amazing! I love dolphins and thought I knew everything about them, but I have never even heard of these. The video is really sweet!

  2. Nikki Fotheringham Post author

    Hi Brandy – a rare form of albinism causes the pink coloration – its pretty spectacular isn’t it?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *