In the middle of Helsinki lives a wild boar that has been appearing almost like clockwork in recent weeks
This may be the first wild boar to settle permanently in an urban area in Finland. In Berlin, for example, there are thousands of wild boars.
The Viikin-Vanhankaupunginlahti nature reserve in central Helsinki is an internationally renowned bird sanctuary. Few people know that the area is also home to a large ungulate with fierce tusks, the wild boar.
Wildlife enthusiasts in the area have recorded sightings of the Viikki wildfowl almost daily from late March to mid-April.
The pig seems to be particularly happy on the small island of Klobben, where it arrives almost exactly at dusk.
According to Haapanen’s observations and photographs, this is the same individual that has been observed in the area for several years.
– Based on the photographs, it has been determined that this is a roar born in 2020. It has been observed for the first time in the autumn of 2021, says Haapanen.
According to Haapanen, this is significant.
In Helsinki, no wild boar in a particular area has been found permanently. Now the choice of pigs is apt: it seems to be comfortable with the geographical center of the capital.
More typically, in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, observations are made of wild boar in the city area, which can endanger traffic.
For example, in June 2020, the police and the game management association tracked the wild boar that collided with the car in the Northeast Helsinki area.
Karju enjoys the famous island
In recent weeks, nature enthusiasts have seen pigs moving on or near Klobben Island, quite regularly, at sunset.
The same place was prominently featured in public in early 2020, when a pair of sea eagles was successfully nesting on the island.
Eero Haapanen describes Klobben as the center of the area’s bird wetland. In 2019, the first cormorants were nesting on the island, and now there are over 160 nesting pairs.
This may also be partly due to the recent movements of the wild boar.
– The island is full of life. It is possible that fish balms fall from cormorants and caution to the ground as they feed their chicks. Occasionally, chicks also fall from the nests, which may be prey for some predators, perhaps also for wild animals.
In addition, wild roots would appear to be the roots of a tasty area of \u200b\u200baquatic plants. According to Haapanen, the up -drawn osman -coil shoots have been seen not only on the beach of Klobben, but also on the coast of the opposite Lammaaari.
Huge wild boar population in Berlin
Miettinen says he has a little caution to be aware that all observations are the same individual.
– I do not see any special signs in the pictures that one could say that it is only one male. However, I also do not consider it impossible. At least the growth of the tooth over the years is suitable for the idea.
Miettinen does not know other cases in Finland where the wild boar would have been more permanent in the urban area. He considers this possible because the species is quite adaptable.
Many European cities have a large number of wild boars. For example, the Berlin region is assessed compared to.
– There are forests, protection and wetlands in the Old Town Bay area. There you will definitely find something to do and eat. Wilds are good for a variety of food. Almost anything that is chewable and edible, says Elmo Miettinen.
