Wildlife officials warn public to stay away from Neil the seal
Wildlife officials in Tasmania have issued a stern warning to the public to give Neil the seal space during his visit, after some people reportedly brought their babies close to the 1,000kg giant for photos. Dr Kris Carlyon, the section head for wildlife health at Tasmania’s department of natural resources, said there is a real risk of the public “essentially loving Neil to death”.
Neil's unusual origins and behavior
Neil, a southern elephant seal, was born in Tasmania in October 2020, which is an anomaly as most of his kind live thousands of kilometres south on the subantarctic Macquarie and Heard islands. Elephant seals return multiple times a year to their birthplace to moult, breed, or in Neil’s case, rest and learn how to play fight. Dr Clive McMahon, an elephant seal expert, explained that Neil thinks Tasmania is home because he doesn’t know where Macquarie Island is.
Neil has returned to southern Tasmania 12 times so far. This year, his size and his habit of sleeping in the middle of the road and attacking bollards have caused a stir. He could ultimately grow to be 3,500kg and about 4.5 metres long.
Risks of public interaction
Carlyon emphasized that Neil is a large marine predator and should not be approached. “We have seen examples around the world where large, potentially dangerous animals have had to be euthanised if there is risky behaviour by the public, resulting in an unmanageable safety concern,” he said. He compared Neil to polar bears and bison, which people would not approach in other parts of the world.
Some people have tried to leave meals for Neil, but he does not need food and won’t feed while on land. Carlyon urged the public to let Neil rest during his six-week stay after a busy feeding period in the Southern Ocean.
Double-edged sword of fame
Carlyon described Neil’s fame as a “double-edged sword”. While it helps raise awareness for threatened species and his protection, it also encourages risky human behaviour, such as people trying to get selfies or close-up photos. He noted instances of people carrying their small babies close to Neil for Instagram shots.
The warning echoes the case of Freya the walrus, who was euthanised in Norway in 2022 after warnings to keep distance were ignored. Carlyon said relocation is an option but a risky last resort.
Expert advice on safe distance
Dr Jane Younger, a seal expert at the University of Tasmania, warned that Neil is already large enough to harm a person. “He’s already at a size now where he’s dangerous. Even if he’s not in an aggressive mood, he could easily kill a person,” she said.
Carlyon stressed that if people respect Neil, he won’t mind them. He urged residents to stay at least 20 metres away from him, and 50 metres for dogs, and to avoid getting between the seal 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.
