Rare Pink Dolphins Sighted in Louisiana

Pink Dolphins suffer from albinism, reducing their pigmentationPhoto byGozilla_Activated/Twitter

The Big Story:

Houston native Thurman Gustin and his girlfriend were fishing in a Louisiana channel when they spotted two bright pink dolphins, a rare and awe-inspiring sight.

Gustin quickly filmed the larger dolphin, as he had never seen anything like it.

He uploaded the video on his Facebook page.

Gustin, an avid fisherman, considered the sighting of the pink dolphins an extraordinary stroke of luck, as such occurrences are extremely rare. The stunning encounter serves as a reminder of the wonders of nature and leaves lasting memories for those lucky enough to witness it.

We were both freaking out. We were like, ‘Oh my god, it’s so pretty’… I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a pink dolphin- Thurman Gustin

Why it matters?

These pink dolphins are likely bottlenose dolphins with albinism, a condition caused by gene mutations that reduce melanin production. The lack of pigment makes their skin appear pink, and blood vessels can be seen through it.

Pinky, a well-known pink dolphin that has been swimming in the Gulf of Mexico area for about 16 years, may have been one of the dolphins they spotted. However, genetic testing is needed to confirm albinism in Pinky. Pinky was observed mating in 2016, raising the possibility that the second dolphin was her offspring.

Albinism is a rare trait in the animal kingdom and can lead to challenges for survival, including poor eyesight. Other pink dolphin sightings have been reported in the past, but video evidence was limited.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recorded only two other dolphins with albinism in the Gulf of Mexico.

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