There are many jokes about pink elephants and even though the calf in Botswana is the real deal, who ever heard of a pink dolphin?Finding Dulcinea.com reports:
A pink bottlenose dolphin again surfaced in Louisiana’s Lake Calcasieu, an estuary north of the Gulf of Mexico. The dolphin, which gets its color from albinism, was seen by charter boat captain Erik Rue, who originally spotted and photographed it in June 2007.
Albinism is a rare condition seen in just 14 bottlenose dolphins since the first was spotted in 1962, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. It affects many species, including humans and 20 species of dolphins, whales and porpoises.“Very little is known about albino dolphins due to their extreme rarity.
What is known about albinism comes from humans,” explains the NOAA. “Albinism is a genetic predisposition, expressed as a lack of melanin pigments within the body. … This genetic trait is characterized by white or light skin and hair, the appearance of pink or red eye coloring and often-impaired vision.”The pink dolphin has attracted tourists to Lake Calcasieu, but conservationists warn that sightseers should be careful around it. See full article.
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