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Post by Queen of the Damned on Mar 20, 2009 20:39:50 GMT -5
.jpg) By Rebecca Morelle Science reporter, BBC News Pink baby elephant in Botswana (Mike Holding) The little pink calf was spotted in amongst an 80-strong elephant herd A pink baby elephant has been caught on camera in Botswana. A wildlife cameraman took pictures of the calf when he spotted it among a herd of about 80 elephants in the Okavango Delta. Experts believe it is probably an albino, which is an extremely rare phenomenon in African elephants. They are unsure of its chances of long-term survival - the blazing African sunlight may cause blindness and skin problems for the calf. Mike Holding, who spotted the baby while filming for a BBC wildlife programme, said: "We only saw it for a couple of minutes as the herd crossed the river. Baby pink elephant in Botswana The baby elephant seems to be sheltering under its mother to protect itself from the sun "This was a really exciting moment for everyone in camp. We knew it was a rare sighting - no-one could believe their eyes." Documented evidence Albino elephants are not usually white, but instead they have more of a reddish-brown or pink hue. While albinism is thought to be fairly common in Asian elephants, it is much less common in the larger African species. Baby pink elephant in Botswana (Mike Holding) Surviving this very rare phenomenon is very difficult in the harsh African bush Dr Mike Chase, Elephants Without Borders Ecologist Dr Mike Chase, who runs conservation charity Elephants Without Borders, said: "I have only come across three references to albino calves, which have occurred in Kruger National Park in South Africa. "This is probably the first documented sighting of an albino elephant in northern Botswana. "We have been studying elephants in the region for nearly 10 years now, and this is the first documented evidence of an albino calf that I have come across." He said that the condition might make it difficult for the calf to survive into adulthood. "What happens to these young albino calves remains a mystery," said Dr Chase. "Surviving this very rare phenomenon is very difficult in the harsh African bush. The glaring sun may cause blindness and skin problems." However, he told BBC News that there might be a ray of hope for the pink calf as it already seemed to be learning to adapt to its condition. I have learned that elephants are highly adaptable, intelligent and masters of survival Dr Mike Chase, Elephants Without Borders Dr Chase explained: "Because this elephant calf was sighted in the Okavango Delta, he may have a greater chance of survival. He can seek refuge under the large trees and cake himself in a thick mud, which will protect him from the Sun. "Already the two-to-three-month-old calf seems to be walking in the shade of its mother. "This behaviour suggests it is aware of its susceptibility to the harsh African sun, and adapted a unique behaviour to improve its chances of survival." He added: "I have learned that elephants are highly adaptable, intelligent and masters of survival." news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7951331.stmneat! |
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Post by bbsy2 on Mar 20, 2009 20:43:19 GMT -5
it's just a lighter gray.
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Post by Queen of the Damned on Mar 20, 2009 21:13:24 GMT -5
it's just a lighter gray. click the link, its pink! |
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Post by bbsy2 on Mar 20, 2009 21:14:22 GMT -5
nope
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Post by Queen of the Damned on Mar 21, 2009 20:07:42 GMT -5
will someone other then bbsy look and see the damn pink elephant? |
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Post by BeccaThanYOU on Mar 24, 2009 8:02:16 GMT -5
aww i want pink elephant!
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Post by Synyster Gates on Mar 24, 2009 12:31:31 GMT -5
The fuck? That isnt pink, it just looks diseased.
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Post by spirithunter on Mar 24, 2009 21:10:00 GMT -5
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Post by Queen of the Damned on Mar 24, 2009 21:12:08 GMT -5
how cute! Rebeccas going to want one! lol! Now that we have so many ways to capture these animals on film, I think we will find more oddities, they do exist, and albino is rare, not odd, so I guess that was wrong wording on my part. |
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Post by BeccaThanYOU on Mar 25, 2009 6:38:11 GMT -5
i don't want a dolphi n pink or not i hate them they are overrated ugly creatures but id love a purple squirell
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Post by Captain Smiley on Mar 25, 2009 8:14:52 GMT -5
That Elaphant isnt pink
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Post by BeccaThanYOU on Mar 25, 2009 10:48:21 GMT -5
Also the pinkish blush to the elephants skin is mearly caused by being able to see the capillaries below the surface of the skin due to lack of melanin, which is simply what albinoism is lack of melanin.
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Post by DRAVEN on Mar 25, 2009 14:14:50 GMT -5
it's not pink.
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Post by spirithunter on Mar 25, 2009 14:58:03 GMT -5
i want you to explain how it got purple How would I know I hunt Ghost not Cryptids lol. But actually from talking to some guy in New Jersey you can see'em alot 'round there. Even got some in a Zoo and they don't call'em Purple they call'em Black |
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Post by Queen of the Damned on Mar 25, 2009 17:52:01 GMT -5
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Post by Synyster Gates on Mar 25, 2009 18:28:41 GMT -5
BBSY!!! i thought we sorted this through pm we agreed to disagree yet i find you arguing about the colour of this innocent pink elephant! You make me hate pink elephants which in turn makes me hate you. BBSY is a pink elephant? edit from bbsy: I should delete this, but it's freaking hilarious! |
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Post by DRAVEN on Mar 25, 2009 19:08:19 GMT -5
I did say once..it's not pink. it doesn't look pink to me, but i will certainly acknowledge that, in biological terms, it may be referred to as pink. it is certainly not your average elephant color.
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Post by b_Pooly on Mar 25, 2009 19:52:38 GMT -5
just like everyone else in this thread, the article is wrong, it isn't pink, it's a color that appears pink to some.
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Post by hypercringe on Mar 26, 2009 8:10:46 GMT -5
Way to cover your own tracks there their bbsy  See what happens you actually bother to read "Experts believe it is probably an albino, which is an extremely rare phenomenon in African elephants." "Albino elephants are not usually white, but instead they have more of a reddish-brown or pink hue." "We have been studying elephants in the region for nearly 10 years now, and this is the first documented evidence of an albino calf that I have come across." Again given that the guy stating this has a PHD in this field chances are he knows a little bit more than our supposed experts here. Now instead of just editing my post bbsy to avoid looking stupid why not try and argue your way out of that one |
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Post by BeccaThanYOU on Mar 26, 2009 8:50:54 GMT -5
haha oh yes pinkish hue hahahahahaha
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Post by hypercringe on Mar 26, 2009 10:17:25 GMT -5
haha oh yes pinkish hue hahahahahaha Yes indeed a Pink elephant or so our PHD doctorate man does claim it to be |
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Post by BeccaThanYOU on Mar 26, 2009 11:37:18 GMT -5
lets just leave it now
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Post by b_Pooly on Mar 26, 2009 11:40:03 GMT -5
but it does need a doctor!
and I thought a light or something was used on the squirrel to make it look blue, but he says he actually has seen several like that.
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Post by BeccaThanYOU on Mar 26, 2009 11:42:19 GMT -5
but it does need a doctor! and I thought a light or something was used on the squirrel to make it look blue, but he says he actually has seen several like that. OMG don't you dare start again!!! |
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Post by b_Pooly on Mar 26, 2009 11:44:02 GMT -5
but it does need a doctor! and I thought a light or something was used on the squirrel to make it look blue, but he says he actually has seen several like that. OMG don't you dare start again!!! OK, ok! It's perfectly healthy! |
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Post by Queen of the Damned on Mar 26, 2009 12:47:37 GMT -5
OMG don't you dare start again!!! OK, ok! It's perfectly healthy! the Albino elephant will need a doctor, as the article says they will not do well in nature. |
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Post by hypercringe on Mar 26, 2009 13:13:32 GMT -5
OK, ok! It's perfectly healthy! the Albino elephant will need a doctor, as the article says they will not do well in nature. But bbsy wouldn't know that, he's too busy editing and deleting posts to actually bother reading. |
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Post by Queen of the Damned on Mar 26, 2009 13:17:17 GMT -5
the Albino elephant will need a doctor, as the article says they will not do well in nature. But bbsy wouldn't know that, he's too busy editing and deleting posts to actually bother reading. for that note, I will say I did say I was going to delete the whole thread, as I did some of the arguing. bbsy was the one who jumped in and said, "let me just edit out the arguing." and I agreed. By rights he should have deleted all the posts, not edited anyones, which he should have figured would cause an additional argument. Place the blame with me for not just deleting it all. |
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Post by hypercringe on Mar 26, 2009 13:19:31 GMT -5
But bbsy wouldn't know that, he's too busy editing and deleting posts to actually bother reading. for that note, I will say I did say I was going to delete the whole thread, as I did some of the arguing. bbsy was the one who jumped in and said, "let me just edit out the arguing." and I agreed. By rights he should have deleted all the posts, not edited anyones, which he should have figured would cause an additional argument. Place the blame with me for not just deleting it all. Especially considering the first post of mine he edited had no mention of him whatsoever |
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Post by b_Pooly on Mar 26, 2009 13:30:46 GMT -5
for that note, I will say I did say I was going to delete the whole thread, as I did some of the arguing. bbsy was the one who jumped in and said, "let me just edit out the arguing." and I agreed. By rights he should have deleted all the posts, not edited anyones, which he should have figured would cause an additional argument. Place the blame with me for not just deleting it all. Especially considering the first post of mine he edited had no mention of him whatsoever  |
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See what happens you actually bother to read