Viral Photos of Pink Dolphin in North Carolina Spark Controversy and Speculation
Photos of a pink dolphin off North Carolina’s coast have gone viral, raising questions about their authenticity. Experts and social media users weigh in on whether the images are real or AI-generated.
Bollywood Fever: Photos claiming to show a pink dolphin off the coast of North Carolina have recently captured significant attention on social media, leaving viewers both amazed and puzzled. The pictures, initially shared on Facebook, depict a pink-colored dolphin jumping in the air and another stranded on North Carolina’s Hatteras Beach. According to social media posts, the dolphin had washed out of its natural habitat and was found abandoned on the shore. The images quickly went viral, stunning the internet.
However, upon closer inspection, many social media users noticed the dolphin had an unusually plastic appearance, sparking speculation about the images’ authenticity. Many questioned whether they were AI-generated or fake.
In the comments section, one user claimed that the images are not AI-generated and that pink dolphins “show up every now and then,” adding, “the last one was a few years ago near Louisiana. Albino dolphins are just rare.” Another post claimed that the dolphin had washed out of its natural habitat and was saved by a man.
Conversely, some users provided context, stating, “This is a bottlenose dolphin, which can be pink when they are albino but not this pink. This image is just photoshopped. It is important to clarify this is not an AI image because, not only is it not true, but it can also create concerns about AI being too real.”
Local media outlet WCNC also clarified that the photos claiming to show a pink dolphin in North Carolina are not real. We have not received any reports or verified photos of pink dolphins in North Carolina waters,” a spokesperson for the state’s Division of Marine Fisheries said, according to the outlet. Experts with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Southeast Regional Office also confirmed that the images are not real.
Meanwhile, reacting to the pictures, one social media user expressed, “That’s either a very nicely done toy or a dolphin that manages to keep the same posture in all of the photos.” Another user commented, “This is actually confirmed to be fake and possibly even AI-generated since it has a plastic look to it when you examine it.”
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