Neil the Seal Causes Chaos in Tasmania
Wildlife officials have warned people to give Neil the seal space during his visit to Tasmania, where he has been crushing fences, blocking traffic and bashing into parked cars, in what experts say is play-fighting behaviour. Neil, a 1,000kg southern elephant seal, was born in Tasmania in October 2020, which is unusual as most of his kind live thousands of kilometres south on the subantarctic Macquarie and Heard islands.
Local Celebrity Status
“He’s certainly been a bit of a celebrity, and he continues to earn his status,” said Rod Macdonald, the mayor of Tasman council, which covers the area where Neil was born. The seal has become a local attraction, but officials urge the public to maintain a safe distance to avoid disturbing the animal or causing harm.
Call for Other Animal Celebrities
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