Rescued seal pup travels by train from Kokkola to Helsinki Zoo

A malnourished seal pup found in Kokkola has been transported to Helsinki Zoo’s wildlife hospital after volunteers stepped in to help, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

The young grey seal, known locally as a kuutti, was taken into care by the Kokkola region’s animal welfare association after being spotted on shore. Firefighters had initially attempted to return it to the sea but later contacted the zoo’s wildlife hospital, which confirmed the pup needed assistance.

“It was clearly underfed and malnourished,” said Rita Ylinen, a wildlife carer with the association. “Its skin was loose, a sign it lacked sufficient body fat. The wildlife hospital assessed it as needing support, possibly because it hasn’t yet learned to feed itself.”

The pup’s journey to Helsinki was arranged swiftly after two volunteers came forward. One accompanied the seal in a borrowed dog carrier, travelling by train—a method Ylinen has used successfully before. “A few years ago, I checked with VR [Finnish Railways], and they said it’s fine as long as the pet fee is paid,” she explained.

This isn’t the first seal rescue in the area recently. Last week, firefighters returned multiple pups to the water near Kokkola, raising speculation this could be the same animal. Ylinen advises the public to monitor stranded seals from a distance before intervening. “Many just rest on shore, but if they’re in dangerous areas near traffic, it’s best to call emergency services,” she said.

Tags: wildlife, animal rescue, Finland