Rare beluga whale still spotted in Finland’s Kyrönjoki river

A beluga whale first sighted in Finland’s Kyrönjoki river two weeks ago has been observed again in the same area, this time near Koivulahti bridge in Mustasaari, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

New footage captured on Wednesday shows the whale surfacing and swimming in the river. The sighting follows earlier reports from April 17, when local youths fishing in the area first spotted the beluga between Koivulahti bridge and Voitby.

Multiple observations, including video recordings, have since confirmed the whale’s continued presence in the river. Experts had previously suggested the animal would likely leave the area soon, as belugas rarely venture this far north.

Markus Ahola, a specialist researcher at Turku University of Applied Sciences, had estimated that the whale would feed on fish before returning to its usual breeding grounds. He noted that the species does not typically remain in northern Finland for extended periods.

Beluga sightings in the region have drawn significant attention, with researchers and wildlife enthusiasts monitoring the situation closely.