Saimaa ringed seal spotted swimming in Saimaa Canal near Lappeenranta

A Saimaa ringed seal has been spotted swimming in the Saimaa Canal near the town of Lappeenranta, with observations reported at various points along the canal, several hundred meters from open water. This marks the first known sighting of the seal in the canal, an area typically less frequented by the adept swimmer, who usually prefers more open waters.

Heidi Kuismanen, a resident by the canal, encountered the seal during her evening walk on Thursday. The seal’s snout surfaced, drawing her attention. “I recognized the animal as a Saimaa ringed seal and knew that there had been a sighting in that area the previous morning,” Kuismanen shared. She observed the seal swimming parallel to the canal edge and managed to capture a video of its movements. “It was a unique experience. I got to watch it dive for quite a while,” she described, noting that the seal appeared to be in good health and curious, seemingly unbothered by her presence.

The Saimaa Canal at Kuismanen’s filming spot is roughly a few dozen meters wide, with the nearest lock still a distance away. Kaarina Tiainen, the Saimaa ringed seal coordinator for the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, reported that passersby have been spotting the swimming seal for a few days. However, as of now, there are no clear indications as to the individual seal’s identity. Each Saimaa seal’s coat patterns are unique, allowing for identification based on these markings.

“It’s likely a young individual, possibly one of last winter’s pups, looking for its own territory and gathering food for the winter,” Tiainen speculated. Typically, adult seals are territorial and remain in established habitats. Tiainen hopes the seal will make its way back to more open waters, as the canal environment does not provide a suitable breeding location.