Estonian seal-watching tours lure the animals closer with classical music
Boat tours off Estonia's northern coast use classical music to draw curious seals near, with the Malusi islands offering the region's largest seal habitat. Visitors describe the experience as far more exciting than seeing the animals at a zoo.
For seven years, boat captain Anti Nõmmela has been guiding visitors on seal-watching trips along Estonia's northern coast, taking the boat out at least once or twice a week. According to him, seals are most commonly found around the Malusi islands, where the deep sea nearby offers ideal, undisturbed conditions. He has occasionally spotted as many as 40 seals at once.
A musical trick
Epp Libe, a guide with Prangli Reisid, confirms that seals genuinely swim closer to boats when classical music plays. She explains that the calm, flowing rhythms and harmonies of classical music appeal to the naturally curious animals precisely because such sounds are unusual in the marine environment.
According to legend, this connection dates back to 1894, when brothers Aleksander and Gustav Aksberg, residents of Aksi Island, played violin and harmonium aboard their boat while sailing home from Oulu. They noticed seals gathering and following the vessel, an observation that gave rise to the belief that classical music could draw the animals near.
Visitor impressions
Despite windy conditions on a recent Sunday trip, participants still came away with a memorable experience, enjoying the chance to see seals in their natural habitat rather than at a zoo. One visitor, Jevgeni, described the young seals as cute and chubby, joking he would happily take a couple home.
The Malusi islands host Harju County's largest seal population, with sightings best on sunny, calm days. The guide recalled one occasion when more than 30 seals rested on the rocks at once in near-perfect weather.
While seals appear small and soft from a boat, the gray seal is actually the largest mammal in the Baltic Sea — males can weigh up to 300 kilograms and grow beyond two meters in length.
