Rare harbour porpoises spotted in Kyrönjoki river and nearby sea

At least three harbour porpoises have been observed in the Kyrönjoki river and coastal waters of Ostrobothnia, marking the first confirmed sighting of the endangered species in the region, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

Wildlife officials confirmed the sightings after reviewing photos and videos taken by local fishermen and residents. The porpoises—small toothed whales rarely seen in Finnish waters—were first spotted Friday evening near the Koivulahti bridge in Mustasaari, before reappearing near the Lagagrynnan island in Vassor, where the river meets the sea.

“They kept circling my boat”
Local angler Benjamin Holmqvist captured footage of the animals, estimating three or possibly four individuals moving between the river and open water. “I last saw them just an hour ago near the harbour,” he told Yle on Monday evening. “They swam right up to my boat, staying within ten metres the whole time—it was surreal to see them so close.”

Fredrik Påfs, whose son was among the first to spot the porpoises, initially mistook them for dolphins. “When I saw the video the next day, I realised they had to be porpoises. They really do look like dolphins at first glance,” he said.

Unusual behaviour puzzles experts
Stefan Pellas, head of wildlife management for Coastal Ostrobothnia, called the sighting “extraordinary,” noting that harbour porpoises—Finland’s only native whale species—typically avoid rivers. He speculated they may have followed spawning fish, such as whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus), upstream. “In southern Sweden, porpoises are known to feed on herring. Maybe they’re doing the same here,” he told Yle.

The animals appear healthy and unafraid of humans, lingering in the area despite no obstacles preventing their departure. Holmqvist, who spent the day observing them, suggested their presence might be linked to abundant food sources: “There’s plenty of spawning fish in the river right now.”

A threatened species
Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are Finland’s only regularly occurring whale, though they are classified as endangered. Measuring 1.45–1.6 metres and weighing 50–60 kg, they are most commonly found in the southern Baltic Sea, with occasional sightings along the Finnish coast from the Gulf of Bothnia to the Gulf of Finland. Their rounded bodies and lack of a beak often lead to confusion with seals.