The MERR Institute joins WBOC DelmarvaLife’s hosts Lisa Bryant and Steve Monz to explain MERR’s role in preserving our local ecology and discuss the recent sightings of a rare albino dolphin.
WBOC’s Delmarva Life
Beachgoers along the Delaware and Maryland coasts have had a special visitor this month, with multiple sightings of a rarely-seen albino dolphin.
Suzanne Thurman, Executive Director of the Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute, told WBOC’s DelmarvaLife they began tracking a pair of dolphins a few weeks ago, one of which was curiously white.
An albino dolphin spotted along the Lewes coastline in July 2026
MERR Institute/Troy Roach
Thuman said through picture and video analysis, they’ve determined that one is a leucistic juvenile dolphin.
“What we were seeing, when they were in the Delaware waters… is has decreased pigmentation, but not a complete lack of it, so they still have dark eyes.”
Thurman said the reports of the dolphins started in Bethany, and worked their way up to Lewes, but now are coming from the Virginia Eastern Shore areas near Chincoteague.
Thurman said the fact they’re in a pair is likely by design.
“There are theories that say that the other dolphins who have normal pigmentation protect this lighter dolphin, and try to keep it as safe as they can.”
If you do want to try to spot the dolphins, you’re asked to take photos or videos from at least 300′ away, so you’re not disturbing or harassing free animals.
They ask anyone who sees them to report them to MERR at merrinstitute@gmail.com or 203-228-5029.