It’s Barbie season − so, not surprising that a rare pink dolphin was spotted swimming in Louisiana waters last week.
Thurman Gustin, of Houston, shared in a Facebook post that he saw two pink dolphins in Cameron Parish near the Gulf of Mexico on July 12, while fishing at Old River Pass.
“We were fishing down in Louisiana, near a channel that runs down to the Gulf of Mexico when I spotted something under the water that was really big and not the right color,” Gustin told USA TODAY. “I couldn’t believe what I just saw, so I immediately took out my camera and started filming.”
“After a while, it came closer to the boat. There were two of them − a big one and a small one.”
Gustin’s video shows one pink dolphin briefly coming out of the water before diving back under.
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Gustin added that he has been fishing for almost 20 years now, but this is the first time he spotted a pink dolphin.
“I go fishing all the time,” said Gustin. “This was my third trip to Louisiana this year. I got very lucky because such spotting is extremely rare. People who have lived their whole lives there haven’t seen anything like this.”
He called the experience “unforgettable.”
‘Pinky’ the dolphin is a ‘well-known’ resident
It is not clear which dolphin Gustin saw, but albino bottlenose dolphins have been spotted in the area, with one seen often enough to have earned the nickname “Pinky”. Scientist Greg Barsh previously told National Geographic that albino dolphins have a genetic mutation that causes their skin to appear pinkish and white.
This genetic mutation is so rare that there have only been about 20 or so sightings recorded since the mid-20th century, according to the Blue World Institute.
The Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network, which works with stranded marine mammals including dolphins and sea turtles along the Louisiana coast, said in an email to USA TODAY that “Pinky” is a “well-known resident of that area and is often seen in those waters.”
“The dolphin’s pink coloration is unusual but occurs naturally,” said the network.
“We are aware of this pink dolphin and do not plan to engage with it unless it becomes stranded or entangled in some way,” added the network. “We encourage people to enjoy watching “Pinky” and all dolphins from a distance of at least 50 yards away, and never feed them.”
Amazon river dolphins are also pink but are only found in freshwater, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). They are found throughout much of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela.
The Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network requests those who observe a stranded marine mammal (alive or dead) or entangled animal to call 877-942-5343.
