Each year, residents in Tasmania welcome a very chaotic neighbour. He blocks roads, crushes traffic cones and can be noisy – and he weighs 1,000kg.
Neil is a southern elephant seal and twice a year for the past 12 years, he returns to land in a phenomenon known as ‘haulout’.
This is when seals usually rest, moult and breed. So why is Neil more often found engaging with a traffic cone than with a fellow seal?
“We aren’t completely certain, but we think Neil’s mum was probably from Macquarie Island [halfway between Tasmania and Antarctica] and might have been a young, inexperienced breeder who gave birth to him in Tasmania instead of on Macquarie,” explains Jane Younger, a senior lecturer in Southern Ocean Vertebrate Ecology at the University of Tasmania.
“Elephant seals usually return to the place they were born to haulout, so that’s why Neil comes back to Tassie a couple of times a year.”
Neil’s boisterous behaviour has made him a star on social media, with a TikTok account named neiltheseal316 racking up over one million followers.
On it, videos of Neil’s antics are reposted – but it also includes warnings and safeguarding information, as Neil’s popularity could also put him at risk.
“Neil is a beautiful seal rarely seen in Tasmania and it’s understandable that people want a photo of him. But he is a 1,000kg wild marine predator that is very capable of hurting or killing someone if he were to become startled,” explains Younger.
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So what should people do if they encounter Neil the seal?
“People need to keep a safe distance (at least 20 meters away) and make sure not to get between Neil and the sea when he’s on the beach, because seals don’t like to have their sea access blocked.”
Further advice from the City of Clarence Council includes:
- Follow all directions of NRE Marine Conversation Program officers, Tasmania Police and City of Clarence officers
- Follow temporary traffic diversions (these can be viewed online)
- Keep dogs on a lead and at least 50 metres away from Neil
- Do not interact with Neil or attract his attention as he may interpret this as an invitation to play
- Report any inappropriate behaviour around Neil the Seal to the Marine Mammal Hotline on 0427 WHALES (0427942537) or email whales@nre.tas.gov.au
Clarence City Council is facing growing calls to implement a formal plan that prioritises Neil’s welfare.
“Unfortunately, if Neil were to hurt someone, it is likely that he would be euthanised,” adds Younger.
“This has been the case for other large marine predators in human areas in different parts of the world. As Neil continues to grow (up to 3,500 kg) this will be even more important. Keeping a safe distance is important to keep safe and to keep Neil safe too!”
Top image: Neil the seal in Tasmania on 6th July 2026. Credit: Australian Associated Press/Alamy
