Don’t be fooled, this is actually a pink elephant.

Vivid footage shows this baby elephant playing with another elephant in a lagoon in South Africa.

Hunting tour operator Mr Potgieter captured the unusual sight at the Olifants River in Kruger National Park on February 9.

(SWNS)

“A few tourists reported seeing this pink calf in late 2023, but to my knowledge there is no video footage of the sighting,” said Mr Potgieter, a safari tour operator. “As a regular visitor to Kruger National Park, I have been fortunate to have seen animals with the recessive gene before, including wildebeest, blue antelope, lions and some birds.”

Knowing it was a special moment, Mr Potgieter took a few photos. He described the experience as “a pleasant surprise”.

“Albinism in African elephants is extremely rare, with only one in 10,000 births resulting in a lighter coat colour,” said Mr Potgieter.

(Screenshot/Newsflare)

(Screenshot/Newsflare)

Albinism is a genetic disorder characterized by reduced production of melanin, the substance responsible for creating pigment in the eyes, hair, and skin.

The tour operator guessed that the baby elephant was about 1 year old.

“The elephant herd structure is often quite complex, leading to individuals with recessive genes being isolated and eliminated, but this calf was accepted by all members of the herd and fit in perfectly,” he said.