A rare pink dolphin, nicknamed Pinky, resurfaced in Louisiana waters about two weeks ago. It was spotted by charter boat captain Erik Rue, the same person who first saw it in the area in 2007, reported ABC News.
This time, Rue had exciting news about the adorable bottlenose dolphin — she is female and possibly pregnant! The captain said he saw the dolphin mate several times since resurfacing.
Rue said when Pinky was first spotted in 2007, she swam alongside her mother. Now, however, she often swims on her own, sometimes within five to 10 feet of his charter boat. Other times, she swims with other dolphins.
"We still see her swimming almost every day in the summertime," Rue told WGNO. "We've seen her a lot in the last few weeks. She looks happy and healthy."
The captain said people who see Pinky for the first time are often surprised to see just how pink she really is.
"I think many are a bit surprised when they actually see it and it's actually bright pink like we've told them. They say, 'Oh, my gosh, it's really pink!' They are surprised that it's just the way we described it to them," said Rue.
The question in many people's minds is: How did this bottlenose dolphin get its color?
Scientist Greg Barsh, from the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Alabama, said Pinky is most likely an albino, as shown by her reddish eyes and blood vessels that are visible through her pale skin, according to National Geographic.
Barsh also said albinos often suffer from eyesight problems because of the lack of melanin, which naturally helps protect the eyes. Furthermore, albinos often suffer from various health problems related to the condition.
If Pinky really is pregnant, then what color will her offspring be?
It depends, said Barsh. If she mated with another albino, her babies would all be pink. However, if she mated with a carrier of the albino gene, there is a 50 percent chance she would have pink offspring.
