A bottlenose dolphin swims near Kimito Island in Southern Finland on 21st May, 2020. Photo: Olli Loisa / Str / Lehtikuva
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Reports of dolphin sightings have emerged from the eastern Gulf of Finland, with observations confirmed near St Petersburg and off the coast of Kotka.
According to the Russian marine research institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences, dolphins were spotted about 50 kilometres from St Petersburg. A researcher from the institute told the local newspaper Fontanka that the animals are most likely bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
Separately, Kymen Sanomat reported on Thursday that a dolphin had been seen in Finnish waters near Kotka, roughly 130 kilometres west of the Russian sightings.
Bottlenose dolphins are rarely observed in the Gulf of Finland, though occasional appearances have been recorded in the past. In 2020, a dolphin of the same species was sighted off the coast of Kotka.
While the exact number of dolphins seen this week remains unclear, experts consider any dolphin presence in these waters noteworthy due to the region’s brackish conditions and relatively low biodiversity compared to more temperate seas.
The Russian marine research institute did not speculate on the cause of the dolphins’ appearance in the Gulf but confirmed that the animals did not appear to be in distress. No formal monitoring effort has been announced.
Dolphins are more commonly found in the North Atlantic and warmer parts of the Baltic Sea. Their rare presence in the Gulf of Finland has occasionally sparked public interest and media coverage, though sightings tend to be brief and infrequent.
In both the Russian and Finnish cases, the dolphins were observed swimming near the surface and moving freely. No injuries or entanglements were reported.
The Institute stated it will continue to gather reports from the public and vessels operating in the area. Finnish authorities have not issued any official statement, but local marine researchers are expected to follow up.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
