Footage of rare albino dolphin captured off Florida coast
Digital Reporter
Tuesday, January 13, 2015, 9:54 AM - Dolphin-spotting is a treat in itself, even without the dolphin in question being a super-rare albino.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) volunteer Danielle Carter spotted the one in the video above off Florida's east coast in December, recording it as it spent a few minutes surfacing and resurfacing near the boat.
The animal was spotted in Brevard County's Indian River Lagoon, according to Florida Today, although officials are not revealing the sighting's exact location, for fear people will harass the dolphin.
This is one of only 15 albino bottlenose dolphins spotted since 1962. Their albinism, sometimes making them appear pink to the eye, comes from a lack of melanin pigmentation in their skin.
In 2007, people aboard a boat near Louisiana spotted one whose skin and eyes were shocking pink. Dubbed 'Pinky' (of course), you can keep up with sightings on its Facebook page.
In 2014, Japanese fisherman captured one during a controversial dolphin hunt, and it was later sold into captivity.
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