Holidaymakers couldn’t believe their eyes when a pure white albino dolphin appeared alongside their boat in a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
In the clip, the pale bottlenose dolphin can be seen surfacing alongside a pod of around 15 others as passengers gasp in amazement.
Captain John Shields, a nature enthusiast and guide for Snug Harbor Marina & Tours, captured the video.
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He told What’s The Jam that, despite running tours for decades, he had “never seen anything like this in 50 years”.
He described the encounter as “one incredible sight” and confirmed the animal appeared to be fully grown.
Experts say only a handful of albino dolphins have ever been documented worldwide.
The condition is caused by a rare genetic mutation that limits the production of melanin, leaving the animals with striking white skin, pink eyes and a sensitivity to sunlight.
The unusual sighting was made during a tour run around Chincoteague Island, Virginia, on 15 August.
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