Nature photographs add comfort and appeal for both patients and staff at medical centers
For several years, Risto Raunio's photographic works have enriched the client areas of Mehiläinen NEO's medical center in Turku. We are now on the fifth generation of images. This time, the theme focuses on close-up images of Finnish predators, all of which are classified as endangered.
One of the beasts is Critically Endangered Arctic fox , which last nested in Finland almost 30 years ago. As a result of global warming, the fox has spread further north and taken over old Arctic fox nesting sites. The Arctic fox, an ancient inhabitant of the fells, has been forced to retreat, causing a sharp decline in its population.
Fortunately, there has been increased awareness of the Arctic fox population collapse, and joint conservation efforts by Finland, Sweden, and Norway have yielded results. In 2022, researchers discovered approximately 80 dens across the shared tundra region, including one in Finland. In the year 2023 and 2024, three active dens were found in Finland.
Images of the playful and lively Arctic fox greet visitors in the Mehiläinen NEO entrance hall as soon as they step out of the elevator. The Arctic foxes were photographed in the Svalbard archipelago and Iceland before the animal's return to the Finnish fells. The NeuroNEO department's spaces are adorned with images of the wolverine, bear, and wolf, all native to Finland.
The Arctic fox, or in this image the blue fox, rests on the shore of an Icelandic fjord while a snowstorm rages.