March 2024

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A rare pink dolphin surfaced in the southern United States two weeks ago. The unique animal was first seen in 2007 and has become a local celebrity. Ever since the initial discovery, many have been closely watching the dolphin, aptly named Pinky. It was recently confirmed by charter boat Captain Erik Rue that Pinky is a female dolphin.

An obsession

I’ve taken a ton of pictures of her mating and it proved she’s a female,” Rue said.“I believe I’m first one who saw her and I know I’m the first one to take pictures of her.  I’ve learned a lot since I’ve spent a lot of time following her around.”

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A surprising sight

I think many are a bit surprised when they actually see it and it’s actually bright pink like we’ve told them,” Rue said. “They say ‘Oh my gosh it’s really pink.’ They are surprised that it’s just the way we described it to them.  It’s very stunning to look at,” he added. “Everyone whips out their cell phones to try and capture a picture, or video of it and of course we accommodate.”

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A possible genetic glitch

Pinky is reportedly a curious dolphin and often swims closely to the captain’s ship. Rue has been able to discover her gender, but he is still unsure why she is pink. There are a few theories. Initially, it was believed that she was an albino dolphin – she has red eyes and her blood vessels show. She also has a pink belly like most normal dolphins; according to Rue, if she were an albino then she should have a white belly. He is starting to think that her coloring may just be a genetic glitch. There is also a freshwater species of dolphin known as the Amazon River dolphin that is naturally pink in color, so she could possibly belong to this group.

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The beauty of nature

Rue is still not sure what caused Pinky’s unique look.  “I’ve changed what I thought over time, as I analyzed the pictures I have,” he said.  But he is sure that she is a happy and healthy animal.  “Other than it being pink and her eyes not opening all the way, it’s a perfectly normal dolphin and does all the things the rest of them do.  It’s interesting to know things like that exist in the world and it’s really beautiful to see that.”

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SEE ALSO: 15 Cute Baby Animals That Will Make Your Heart Melt.