These were later identified from photographs in Germany as white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris). This was the first time white-beaked dolphins were observed within current Finnish borders, although one was seen in 1935, in an area in Carelia, currently on the Russian side of the border. However, bottle-nosed dolphins have been seen at least three times in the Gulf of Finland and several times in the Baltic Sea.
The white-nosed dolphins were first observed by Johan Simberg, who was out in his boat delivering mail. He notified Metsähallitus. Later the white-nosed dolphins swam majestically past the Metsähallitus archipelago centre, and they approached to within 10-20 metres of the Metsähallitus boat and blew spray through their blowholes.
The white-nosed dolphins remained in the Korpoström area all day, being curious. One of them was caught for a while in a fishing net, but a local fisherman released it. The white-nosed dolphins were quite tame, even investigating the inside of a boat shed.
Särkänniemi´s Dolphinarium in the Tampere Finland
Kai Mattsson, tel. +358 03 248 8111
