Wild boar swims toward hiker in Finnish national park

A wild boar swam directly toward a hiker in South Konnevesi National Park before turning back after noticing her, Yle reports.

Jenni Rossi, a keen hiker from Suonenjoki, saw the animal on October 19 while sitting on a rocky shore and eating. She noticed movement on an island about 100 metres away and initially thought a bear was moving between the trees.

After recognising the animal as a wild boar, Rossi watched it enter the water and swim toward her. When it was halfway across the strait, she waved her arms and shouted at it. The boar then turned around, swam back to the island, climbed ashore and continued on its way.

Rossi filmed the encounter and shared the video on Instagram. It has received nearly 100,000 views and more than 1,000 likes. She said the boar’s swimming speed surprised her.

Rossi has seen a bear in the wild before, but said the boar encounter surpassed it. She plans to keep hiking as usual, though she may make more noise while walking. She believes she sees animals because she hikes alone and moves quietly.

Wild boar encounters are rare, but the animals have recently been seen near residential areas. A month earlier, a herd was spotted close to the centre of Iisalmi in North Savo, prompting police to warn the public.