They're both gray, right? Wait, colorblind-ed! When I call gray things pink it usually makes things more interesting too--pink ties, pink pick-up trucks, pink Valentine's Day card I made for my wife...that turned out to be gray. posted by incompressible at 3:38 AM on March 22
That's what happens when you sober up. posted by caddis at 5:00 AM on March 22
I saw three of these a few months ago in a zoo/pen in outer Rangoon, Burma. We couldn't get too close, possibly for our protection or because the albino elephants are held to be somewhat sacred creatures, nor were we supposed to take pictures, though that had more to do with the pictures being sold from the booth in the viewing gallery than for reasons of culture or the animals' own protection. In addition to buying the grainy photo from the booth, I took one on the sly myself (note: self-link to flickr photo), which explains why it turned out a bit wonky (blow it up to original size for a better view). The males are larger and more greyish, closer to a regular elephant colour, and the females are more pinky. As noted in the article, though, it's a bit more common in Asian elephants.
In Burma there's a history of Kings having albino elephants caught and kept them in a private collection, and teaching them to kneel before the King and nonsense like that, as a tribute to his power. It's one bit of history the junta hasn't erased, and there were photos on display of the generals and their families coming up to them, touching them, etc. I was disappointed we didn't get to see them walk around more, for our sake and their own. They were released from their leg chains toward the end of our time there, but before then they just kept moving forward and back, forward and back, as if doing calisthenics, pulling against the restraint, which I guess is how they spend a good deal of the day. It was pretty sad.
On a side note, I didn't know there is an organisation called Elephants without Borders! Wonderful. posted by roombythelake at 5:30 AM on March 22
Thanks to you, baphomet, I have finally discovered my purpose in life. I have booked a flight to Botswana, where I will spend the rest of my days following that adorable, pink-ish little thing around with a barrel of sunscreen.
As long as this stops some nitwit would-be know-it-alls from yammering about "black swans," I'm all for it! posted by jonp72 at 8:51 AM on March 22
I applaud their restraint in not photoshopping it to make it look more pink. Unfortunately I can't say the same about the dolphin. posted by metastability at 8:52 AM on March 22
I'd say it was more of a putty colour, myself. The dolphin, now, is pink. Goodness.
As long as this stops some nitwit would-be know-it-alls from yammering about "black swans," I'm all for it!
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This is also why I look like a black dude with my irish pals, and why I look irish with my black pals.
I also seem normal and possibly nice on mefi because of the preponderance of douchebaggery.
posted by hal_c_on at 3:15 AM on March 22