The Reel says
Viral video shows rare bright pink dolphins in Oman?
While a pale dolphin with a pinkish hue was indeed spotted off the coast of Oman, the viral footage has been digitally altered. Local analysis indicates the original unedited video showed a white or gray dolphin, likely a Risso's dolphin, and the bright neon-pink color was added later.
- 1 claim checked
- 1 source
- Checked 21 Oct 2026
- Main source: Shabiba
The Reel we checked
@lastminuteofindia
A rare and unusual sight has caught attention after pink dolphins were reportedly spotted swimming near Qantab Beach in Muscat, Oman, amazing wildlife…
Watch on Instagram ↗The trick: Edited to mislead
It edits a real photo, video or audio so it shows something that didn't happen (known as doctored photo or video).
“A rare and unusual sight has caught attention after pink dolphins were reportedly spotted swimming near Qantab Beach in Muscat, Oman, amazing wildlife enthusiasts.”
How this trick works and how to answer it →
What we checked
Our read of the video
The video shows a pink dolphin swimming alongside a darker dolphin in open water, matching claims of pink dolphin sightings. However, the footage alone cannot verify whether this specific video was recorded off the coast of Oman.
- 0:07 A pink dolphin swims alongside a darker dolphin near the water's surface.
How it plays you
- Doctored media: “Rare Pink Dolphins Spotted Near Oman Beach”. It presents a digitally altered video with artificially enhanced neon-pink saturation as authentic footage of a rare natural phenomenon.
- Loaded language: “amazing wildlife enthusiasts”. It uses wonder-inducing framing to make viewers accept the visual claim without questioning its authenticity.
Short version
Does this look wrong?
Check a Reel yourself
Send any Reel to @checkthis.chat on Instagram. You get a reply like this in a minute or two.
Send a Reel