Video : Rare Pink Dolphin spotted in Gulf of Mexico

 

Last week, a rare pink dolphin was seen swimming in the waters of Louisiana.  According to CBS News, the video of the mammal was shot by Thurman Gustin, who has been fishing for more than 20 years.  He spotted not one, but two pink dolphins near the Gulf of Mexico in Cameron Parish on July 12, and shared the video in a Facebook post that recently  went viral.  Gustin told CBS News that, despite being used to seeing dolphins in the area, the amazing sight took him completely by surprise.

 He even compared it to some of his most remarkable wildlife experiences, such as seeing a bobcat swimming in a creek in Texas, an event that left a lasting impression on him.  Gustin told the outlet about the bobcat encounter, "It was cool but nothing like it."

 He continued, "As we were leaving I saw something under the water that I knew was not normal. I stopped the boat and picked up this beautiful pink dolphin. I had to record it."

 Gustin's video shows a pink dolphin coming out of the water and then diving back in.

 "I go fishing all the time," he told USA Today.  "This was my third trip to Louisiana this year. I am very lucky because places like this are very rare. People who have lived there their whole lives have not seen anything like this."  Gustin described his experience as "unforgettable".

Although there is a species known as the pink river dolphin that lives in freshwater river basins in South America, Gustin had not seen this species before.  The most likely were bottlenose dolphins, usually brown in color, which are common in the Gulf of Mexico.

 According to the Blue World Institute, pink or white colored dolphins are rare and often attributed to albinism.  Unfortunately, these unique creatures attract human attention and, in some unfortunate instances, can be captured and kept in captivity.

 According to USA Today, the dolphin that Gustin encountered may have been 'Pinky', a well-known dolphin from southern Louisiana.  Pinky, first seen in the Calcasieu River in 2007, has features similar to those of an albino dolphin, with red eyes and visible blood vessels due to a lack of pigment.

 Pinky has also got a lot of followers on Facebook, where people share their meetings with her.