With its pearly white colouring it’s an easy target for predators but, with a little help from friends and family, things are going swimmingly for Popcorn, the albino bottlenose dolphin calf.
Popcorn was first spotted by local boat-based whale-watching operator Raggy Charters in April 2023.
It was the first sighting of an albino bottlenose dolphin in Africa, and a competition was immediately launched on Facebook for the public to decide what it should be named.
It was not clear then and it is still unclear as to what gender the little dolphin was.
But after a flood of suggestions and enthusiastic voting, it was decided, and Popcorn it became.
Raggy Charters skipper Jake Keeton said Popcorn appeared to be in great shape.
“He or she is roughly one year and nine months old and is still growing strong.
“He or she usually travels in the middle of a pod of 250 bottlenose dolphins.
“It really stands out for predators, because of its colouring, but this large pod helps keep it safe.”
Keeton said on average, Raggy Charters crews saw Popcorn once or twice a month during cruises to St Croix Island.
“Every time a few weeks go by without a sighting, we get concerned for its wellbeing, but so far he or she keeps on showing up, more grown than the last time.
“We hope to one day see Popcorn fully grown, and if we are lucky, with offspring of its own — and perhaps another albino.”
The Herald
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