Christin Erazo is the producer for TC Palm’s “Indian River Lagoon” segment, and although other reporters have done a good job reporting about our friends in the St Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon, Christin has really excelled with her past year’s dolphin series, teaching us about their families, their struggles in the polluted lagoon, and even their names! (https://twitter.com/TCPalmChristin)

In the past, I have written about black bobcats, and black wolves of the Indian River Lagoon, so it makes sense that today I focus on the recent white (albino) dolphin sighting in the lagoon that Christen brought to my attention through her IRL Dolphin series.

You can see the video of the white dolphin here:

(http://www.tcpalm.com/franchise/indian-river-lagoon/harbor-branch-dolphin-scientists-question-sighting-of-albino-dolphin-in-indian-river-lagoon_62183855)

or here:

(http://news.discovery.com/animals/whales-dolphins/rare-albino-dolphin-spotted-off-coast-of-florida-150105.htm)

A couple of days ago, Florida Fish and Wildlife posted this video of what really looks like  an albino dolphin swimming around, just off  shore, in what appears to be the central lagoon area. Of course, FFW will not report where the sighting actually was so people do not overwhelm or accidentally harass the animal. Some say, like my favorite research institute, FAU/Harbor Branch, that it is “unlikely” that the video is really showing an albino dolphin…

I, as the child of the 60s, prefer “to believe.” 🙂

And of course, I am not a scientist!

When I was a kid growing up in Stuart, some of the most fun was had dreaming and talking about the Lock Ness Monster and Sasquatch. But all joking aside, why wouldn’t there be a white dolphin? The wonders of this world are many….

According to popular blogger, Jane Kingswell of the United Kingdom, (https://animalnewsuk.wordpress.com/about-2/), “Animal News,” there is 1/10,000 chance that any animal, including humans, can be albino. Being albino in the animal kingdom is difficult as one “stands out,” and is not camouflaged against predators. Usually albino animals have shorter life spans for this reason and as well as being more prone to health issues.

But aren’t they magnificent!

To me, even the possibility that there is an albino dolphin, is a miracle, just like everything else in this world. And as we all know, when we look at the miracle of our life every day, we often don’t “see it.”

The chance that an albino dolphin lives in our wonder filled Indian River Lagoon is just a reminder for us to “open our eyes” and see it all, the miracle, the gift, of our Indian River Lagoon.

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Other albino animals, public photos:

Other Photos of various albino animals: (http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=albino+animal+photos&qpvt=albino+animal+phoots&FORM=IGRE_______________)

Albinism: How Stuff Works: (http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/problems/medical/albinism6.htm)

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Black Bobcats of the IRL: (http://jacquithurlowlippisch.com/2014/03/07/the-black-bobcats-of-the-st-lucie-region-and-indian-river-lagoon/)

Black Wolves of the IRL: (http://jacquithurlowlippisch.com/2014/06/20/the-once-florida-black-wolf-of-the-indian-river-lagoon/)

Disease and compromised immune systems in IRL bottlenosed dolphin due to fresh water releases from Lake Okeechobee, C-44, C-24,C-23: (http://jacquithurlowlippisch.com/2014/06/26/fresh-water-pollution-a-destructive-force-in-the-st-lucie-riverindian-river-lagoon/)