In a video filmed near Kantab Beach, not far from Muscat, a light-coloured dolphin with a pinkish tinge can be seen amongst darker animals. The author of an analysis in the Omani publication Al Shabiba suggested that it might be a Risso’s dolphin, although it is impossible to definitively identify the species from a distant recording.
Briefly about the main points
- A pink dolphin was filmed near Kantab Beach.
- The exact date the footage was filmed, the creator of the original video and the species of the animal have not been identified.
- Al Shabiba suggests that the dolphin in the video may be a Risso’s dolphin.
- According to Al Shabiba, some of the viral videos contain footage from Thailand.
What is known about the video from Cantab?
Al Shabiba published its analysis on 18 October. In the days that followed, the video and edited versions of it spread across social media and were picked up by the media.
The exact time the footage was filmed, the author of the original file and the species of the animal have not been publicly established. It is therefore correct to describe the footage as a video of a light-coloured dolphin with a pinkish tinge, rather than as a confirmed sighting of a distinct «pink» species.
Why is the theory about the Risso’s dolphin being considered?
Author of the article: Abbas, Al Shabiba Al-Zajali suggested that the group in the original footage might consist of dolphins Risso. He drew attention to the rounded head, the lack of a distinct beak and the shape of the dorsal fin, but emphasised that the video footage taken from a distance was insufficient for definitive identification.
According to NOAA, Risso’s dolphins may change colour with age, ranging from dark to pale grey or almost white. Adult individuals also often have numerous light-coloured scars, which alter the overall appearance of their skin.
Risso’s dolphins have previously been recorded in the coastal waters of Oman, so this possibility is biologically plausible. However, a light colouration alone is not sufficient to identify the species of a particular animal.
A pink hue does not indicate a specific species
Indo-Pacific humpback whales dolphins Individuals of the species Sousa chinensis may turn white or pink with age: blood vessels show through their pale skin, and the colouration may become more pronounced during activity. This is a well-known characteristic of certain populations, but it does not constitute grounds for classifying the animal from Cantabria as belonging to this species.
According to the International Whaling Commission, the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea), which is found in Omani waters, usually retains its grey colouration throughout its life. A more accurate determination requires higher-quality data or further observations by marine biologists.
The viral videos may have mixed footage from different countries
According to Al Shabiba, footage shot near Khanom in Thailand was added to one of the videos, which was circulated as having been filmed in Oman. The publication links these to a video recorded by the Italian tourist Francesca Kaon in August 2026.
So, the Omani footage suggests that a light-coloured dolphin was present near Kantab, but not all the striking images of «pink dolphins» circulating on social media should necessarily be linked to Muscat.
