Shovelling snow to save endangered seal pups might not be everyone’s idea of a holiday. But for some travellers in Finland, it’s exactly the kind of meaningful experience they’re looking for.
Regenerative tourism aims to have a positive impact on the destinations where it operates. Would you be willing to spend part of your holiday volunteering? For Tiina Polo, the answer is an obvious yes.
“In our family, we like to be active anyway,” says Polo. “Protecting nature while getting physical exercise at the same time seemed like a splendid combination.”
In February 2025, Polo and her family joined a small group on the shores of Lake Saimaa to build artificial snowdrifts. Their aim: to help the Saimaa ringed seal, an endangered species found only in Finland.
The seals rely on deep snowbanks to dig out their breeding lairs. During mild winters, natural snow cover may be insufficient, and seal pups can perish as a result.
As part of their holiday, volunteers help pile up artificial snowdrifts where Saimaa ringed seals can dig breeding lairs.Photo: Jarno Artika/Karelia Cottages
Volunteers use shovels to pile snow into drifts at carefully chosen spots. In recent years, these efforts have helped dozens of pups survive winters with little natural snow.
Source: finland.fi
