Rare pilot whale sighting in Finland draws crowds to western coast

A pilot whale has been spotted in the waters of Mustasaari, Ostrobothnia, marking an exceptionally rare sighting in Finland, public broadcaster Yle reports. The unusual appearance has attracted wildlife enthusiasts and researchers from as far as southwest Finland.

Nature photographer Jukka Seppälä described the encounter as a “magnificent experience,” calling it the highlight of his five-decade-long career. “This is one of the most incredible moments. It feels amazing to have seen a pilot whale here today,” he said. The sighting fulfilled a lifelong dream for Seppälä, whose father had once recounted seeing pods of the whales near Kotka in his youth.

Researchers from Turku University of Applied Sciences, including experts Pinja Karlsson, Johannes Sahlsten, and Markus Ahola, traveled overnight to document the event. Equipped with cameras, underwater recording devices, and water sampling tools, they confirmed the whale’s presence near the mouth of the Kyrönjoki River in Vassor.

Karlsson, who saw a pilot whale for the first time, said the long journey was worth even a fleeting glimpse. Sahlsten, who had previously observed the species in Norway and Iceland, called this sighting “undoubtedly the closest—and likely the last—time a pilot whale will be seen in Finland.”

The team believes the whale is feeding on spawning fish and will soon leave the area. While reports suggested multiple whales, their observations indicate a single individual, identifiable by distinct markings. “We’ve only seen one at a time,” Sahlsten noted, though rapid movements can create the illusion of a group.

Ahola emphasized the rarity of the event, stating that Finland’s pilot whale population cannot afford unnecessary losses. The team continues monitoring to determine whether more whales are present.