Thousands on social media were intrigued after images of a pink dolphin surfaced this week. Users on X, plaform formerly known as Twitter, claimed that the rare aquatic mammal was spotted off the North Carolina coast. After studying the visuals closely, we found that the said dolphin has an unusual plastic look and is the exact same pose in each photo. It looks fake, or AI generated.

Pink dolphin spottings are extremely rare. Also known as Amazon river dolphins and boto, these mammals are native to South America and live in freshwater in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela. North Carolina is thousands of kilometers from these countries.

Posting images on social media, one person said: “Something you don’t see everyday. A rare PINK dolphin. 🐬 The pink dolphin was discovered stranded on a North Carolina beach having been washed out of its natural habitat. The dolphin has been returned to the ocean.”

“Pink dolphin photographed off the coast of North Carolina. I would throw my beer down and get right if I saw this! LOL,” another one added.

However, the images looked fabricated to us. For one obivious reason, the word ‘cola’ can be seen on the dolphin’s forehead once you zoom in. It suggests that the animal, or prop, could have been used in a soda brand commercial. The dolphin also looks plastic.

Furthermore, no official reacted to the said sighting. Wildlife authorities in North Carolina have never confirmed the presence of a pink dolphin in the region.

Social media users highlighted these points. “People keep sharing that fake AI pink dolphin on Facebook, we’re doomed 😭😭😭😭” one person tweeted.

“Half of my Facebook feed is sharing the most obvious fake post I’ve ever seen. No, a pink dolphin did not wash up on Topsail Island and pose for professional quality photos before swimming away,” another one added.