Wildlife researchers say the marine mammal was spotted between Croatia and Italy

Aug 28, 2014 19:03 GMT  ·  By

The online community is now abuzz with the news that, not too long ago, a rare albino bottlenose dolphin was spotted swimming in the Mediterranean Sea.

The marine mammal, a picture of which is available next to this article, was seen cruising the waters between Italy and Croatia, in the Adriatic Sea, which is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean.

The rare bottlenose dolphin was spotted by a group of wildlife researchers from Croatia, who decided to name it Albus, Daily Mail informs. The animal is believed to be a male, and appears to be in good health.

Despite its peculiar body color, Albus appears to have no trouble making friends. Thus, the wildlife researchers say that, when they first spotted it close to Italy's port city Ravenna, it was swimming around with other bottlenose dolphins.

“We have observed an extremely rare albino bottlenose dolphin. Albus was, when we met, with another, normally coloured bottlenose dolphin. Both animals swam and fished, and almost completely ignored us,” the researchers told the press in an interview.

Although albino dolphins and albino whales have been spotted in our planet's seas and oceans before, Albus appears to be the first bottlenose of this kind to have until now made an appearance in the Mediterranean Sea.

As the wildlife enthusiasts who had the chance to see it explain, “This appears to be the first albino dolphin spotted not only in the Adriatic Sea, but in the entire Mediterranean.”

It is estimated that the world's albino dolphin population comprises just 20 specimens. Specialists say that these marine mammals owe their odd body color to a gene mutation that gave them not only white skin, but also pink eyes.

Because of their color, which makes them very easy to notice, such marine mammals are more vulnerable to predators. Hence, few of them live to reach adulthood. “They are no weaker or less able than other dolphins but because of their colour they can be more vulnerable to predators,” an expert said in a statement.

As appealing as the idea to snap some photos of an albino bottlenose dolphin might sound, wildlife researchers warn that people would do best to keep away from Albus. They say that the marine mammal is entitled to his privacy, and that having one too many people follow him around would surely upset it.

“Please don't try to track him or follow him. The only animal a dolphin has to fear in these waters is man,” a wildlife expert with Croatian environmental organization Plavi Svijet wished to stress.