Wildlife officials have warned Tasmanians to give Neil the seal space during his visit, urging the public to stop approaching the 1,000kg southern elephant seal for selfies and instead let him rest. Dr Kris Carlyon, section head for wildlife health at Tasmania's Department of Natural Resources, said on Thursday that some people have even brought their babies close to Neil for photos, risking a tragic outcome.
Neil's unusual presence in Tasmania
Neil was born in Tasmania in October 2020, which is rare because most southern elephant seals live thousands of kilometres south on subantarctic Macquarie and Heard islands. Dr Clive McMahon, an elephant seal expert, told the Guardian that Neil thinks Tasmania is home because he doesn't know where Macquarie Island is. Elephant seals typically return multiple times a year to their birthplace to moult, breed, or rest and learn to play fight.
Neil has returned to southern Tasmania 12 times since his birth, but his growing size – he could eventually reach 3,500kg and 4.5 metres long – and his habit of sleeping in the middle of roads and attacking bollards have caused concern this year.
Risks of approaching Neil
Dr Kris Carlyon warned that Neil is a large marine predator and should not be approached like a tame animal. "He can look cute, cuddly, and placid, but he's a large marine predator – and we certainly wouldn't be approaching things like polar bears or bison in other parts of the world," he said. Carlyon noted that worldwide, large dangerous animals have had to be euthanised when public risky behaviour creates unmanageable safety concerns. He cited the example of Freya the walrus, who was euthanised in 2022 after warnings to keep distance were ignored.
Dr Jane Younger, a seal expert at the University of Tasmania, said Neil is already big enough to kill a person. "Even if he's not in an aggressive mood, he could easily kill a person. They have a big mouth, big teeth, you could get very seriously injured," she said.
Public urged to keep distance
Neil is on land for about six weeks after a busy feeding period in the Southern Ocean. Carlyon urged the public to let him rest and not leave food, as he does not need to eat while on land. He described Neil's fame as a "double-edged sword," noting that while attention raises awareness for threatened species, it also encourages risky behaviour like trying to get selfies or close-up photos.
"There have already been instances of people carrying their small babies up close to him and simply trying to get that shot for Instagram," Carlyon said. Wildlife officials have the option to relocate Neil if the situation becomes dire, but it is a risky last resort.
Safety guidelines
Carlyon stressed that if people respect Neil, he won't mind them. He urged residents to stay at least 20 metres away – 50 metres for dogs – and not to get between Neil and the water. "Neil's not inherently aggressive in the sense that some other animals might be. He'll certainly defend his space, and if he feels threatened he may lash out. So really it's about that proximity and staying away," he said.
