Pink Dolphins

In waters off Hong Kong, dolphins turn pink, it is one of the best places in the world to see a pink dolphin. These pink dolphins are as pink as bubble gum, known as the Indo-Pacific humpback species. I'd read about the dolphins in guide books, but I was always skeptical about whether they were really pink. I thought it had to be an exaggeration.

I decided to sign up my family for a tour with Hong Kong Dolphin watch anyway, figuring it would be nice to spend the morning on the South China Sea regardless of whether we saw the pink dolphins. The tour operator said pink dolphins are seen on 97 percent of its trips, and you can go again for free if there are no sightings.

Scientists don't know why the dolphins living off Hong Kong's coasts are pink. One theory is that the dolphins lost their need for camouflage because they live in brackish water where rivers meet the sea-areas where predators like sharks aren't found. The pink color is believed to be caused by blushing, the flushing of blood to the skin to regulate body temperature.