PINK (albino) dolphin found in US lake - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Sue · 03-03-2009, 06:23 AM

Pink dolphin appears in US lake - Telegraph

Quote:

The world's only pink Bottlenose dolphin which was discovered in an inland lake in Louisiana, USA, has become such an attraction that conservationists have warned tourists to leave it alone.

Charter boat captain Erik Rue, 42, photographed the animal, which is actually an albino, when he began studying it after the mammal first surfaced in Lake Calcasieu, an inland saltwater estuary, north of the Gulf of Mexico in southwestern USA.

Capt Rue originally saw the dolphin, which also has reddish eyes, swimming with a pod of four other dolphins, with one appearing to be its mother which never left its side.

He said: "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.

"The dolphin appears to be healthy and normal other than its coloration, which is quite beautiful and stunningly pink.

"The mammal is entirely pink from tip to tail and has reddish eyes indicating it's albinism. The skin appears smooth, glossy pink and without flaws.

"I have personally spotted the pink dolphin 40 to 50 times in the time since the original sighting as it has apparently taken up residence with its family in the Calcasieu ship channel.

"As time has passed the young mammal has grown and sometimes ventures away from its mother to feed and play but always remains in the vicinity of the pod.

"Surprisingly, it does not appear to be drastically affected by the environment or sunlight as might be expected considering its condition, although it tends to remain below the surface a little more than the others in the pod."

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

"While this animal looks pink, it is an albino which you can notice in the pink eyes.

"Albinism is a genetic trait and it unclear as to the type of albinism this animal inherited."

A close relation of dolphins, the Amazon River Botos, called pink dolphins, live in South America in the Amazon.

Although it's just a genetic trait, the pinkness fascinates me. When I first saw it, I thought someone had played a mean joke and done something to this dolphin. But pink! That's the neatest thing I've seen! I hope nothing happens to it from us people. I'd feel bad.

BadNick · 03-03-2009, 06:27 AM

cool, I hope it doesn't get stressed out from all the attention.

I propose we name it Floyd ....rock on, Floyd

fresnelly · 03-03-2009, 06:34 AM

Quick! Kill it and seize its aphrodesiac powers!

Cynthetiq · 03-03-2009, 08:56 AM

wow... what a magical looking creature!!!!

Baraka_Guru · 03-03-2009, 08:59 AM

Cool.

I like pretty pink porpoises.

* * * * *

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadNick

I propose we name it Floyd ....rock on, Floyd

It's going to be named Hannah Montana...you just wait....

Xerxys · 03-03-2009, 11:02 AM

It looks lovely actually.

I wonder what traits of albinism it has. In humans, they're generally opposed to bright light and more skin sensitivity to UV rays than other people. It might be the same but I would have to find out.

genuinegirly · 03-03-2009, 11:35 AM

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing, Sue.
I imagine there are a number of scientists longing to take a gander at its genome and to run behavioral studies to learn more about it. The little girl in me hopes it successfully reproduces. I want more pink dolphins.

Lasereth · 03-03-2009, 11:37 AM

Holy cow that's amazing.

dippin · 03-03-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genuinegirly

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing, Sue.
I imagine there are a number of scientists longing to take a gander at its genome and to run behavioral studies to learn more about it. The little girl in me hopes it successfully reproduces. I want more pink dolphins.

Well, while not the bottleneck species of dolphin we are used to, there is actually a species of pink river dolphins that live in the amazon river.

Willravel · 03-03-2009, 01:26 PM

I'll bet that dolphin mother had some explaining to do when she suddenly had a white baby!

Xerxys · 03-03-2009, 06:23 PM

Not really, I heard that dolphins were the only other mammals that f****** for fun. It's the parents of the two dolphins that have a serious story to tell!!!

Fly · 03-04-2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadNick

I propose we name it Floyd ....rock on, Floyd

fucking brilliant man

little_tippler · 03-05-2009, 01:59 PM

that is quite unique...beautiful

edit: just looked this up and apparently pink dolphins also exist in the Amazon in Brazil, only they are not albinos in this case. They are called Inia Geoffrensis or 'boto rosa' in portuguese.

xuvio38 · 03-10-2009, 08:49 AM

~~~~~

Sue · 03-10-2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Vita

At this day and time, you couldn't be more correct.. crap.

That would honestly most likely make me puke. And no, I wouldn't be pukin' rainbows either.

Punk.of.Ages · 03-11-2009, 01:33 AM

Wow, that's freakin' rad. It's such a pretty pink.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadNick

I propose we name it Floyd ....rock on, Floyd

Rock on, Floyd indeed...

Skettios · 03-12-2009, 07:44 AM

LOL, Bizzare!

03-03-2009, 06:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
fresnelly Functionally Appropriate Location: Toronto	Quick! Kill it and seize its aphrodesiac powers! __________________ Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

03-03-2009, 08:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	wow... what a magical looking creature!!!! __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

03-03-2009, 11:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	Fascinating! Thanks for sharing, Sue. I imagine there are a number of scientists longing to take a gander at its genome and to run behavioral studies to learn more about it. The little girl in me hopes it successfully reproduces. I want more pink dolphins. __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

03-03-2009, 11:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	Holy cow that's amazing. __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

03-03-2009, 06:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.	Not really, I heard that dolphins were the only other mammals that f****** for fun. It's the parents of the two dolphins that have a serious story to tell!!! Last edited by Xerxys; 03-04-2009 at 12:09 AM.. Reason: Spelling.

03-03-2009, 06:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	cool, I hope it doesn't get stressed out from all the attention. I propose we name it Floyd ....rock on, Floyd

03-03-2009, 11:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.	It looks lovely actually. I wonder what traits of albinism it has. In humans, they're generally opposed to bright light and more skin sensitivity to UV rays than other people. It might be the same but I would have to find out.

03-03-2009, 01:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I'll bet that dolphin mother had some explaining to do when she suddenly had a white baby!

03-05-2009, 01:59 PM	#13 (permalink)
little_tippler Leaning against the -Sun- Super Moderator Location: on the other side	that is quite unique...beautiful edit: just looked this up and apparently pink dolphins also exist in the Amazon in Brazil, only they are not albinos in this case. They are called Inia Geoffrensis or 'boto rosa' in portuguese. __________________ Whether we write or speak or do but look We are ever unapparent. What we are Cannot be transfused into word or book. Our soul from us is infinitely far. However much we give our thoughts the will To be our soul and gesture it abroad, Our hearts are incommunicable still. In what we show ourselves we are ignored. The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged By any skill of thought or trick of seeming. Unto our very selves we are abridged When we would utter to our thought our being. We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams, And each to each other dreams of others' dreams. Fernando Pessoa, 1918 Last edited by little_tippler; 03-05-2009 at 02:07 PM..

03-10-2009, 08:49 AM	#14 (permalink)
xuvio38 Tilted	~~~~~ Last edited by xuvio38; 02-20-2011 at 12:15 PM..

03-12-2009, 07:44 AM	#17 (permalink)
Skettios Condition: Stable and Improving Location: Finger on the little red button.	LOL, Bizzare! __________________ Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies. Frederich Nietzsche