Australian officials ask fans to respect privacy of Neil, a 1000kg seal, who respects nothing

An elephant seal weighing 1,000 kilograms, known as Neil, has become a celebrity of sorts along the Australian coast of Tasmania, but his fame comes with a trail of property damage and public disruption.

Neil, a 5-year-old male, returned to land in June for his semi-annual tour of beachside towns. His presence, however, has created problems as he weighs as much as a small car and has a social media following significantly larger than Tasmania's human population. His escapades have included bending traffic bollards, damaging a public warning sign, and destroying a fence he attempted to vault. He often lies placidly in the middle of roads, bringing towns to a standstill.

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Neil's fame is a bit of a double-edged sword.

Officials are worried that Neil's popularity could encourage ill-advised human-seal interactions that pose risks to both parties. Neil is the only male elephant seal to visit Tasmania in years and has garnered a large TikTok following, partly due to his "jerk-like" behavior. During his current visit, he has reportedly picked fights with parked cars and smashed through barriers meant to keep him off roads.

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We have had some pretty silly behaviour, instances with people carrying their small babies up close to Neil and simply trying to get that shot for Instagram.

Experts explain that this behavior is normal experimentation for a growing seal. Juvenile male elephant seals practice dominance battles by rearing up and crashing their chests together to compete for breeding opportunities. Without other juveniles to practice with, Neil rehearses on cars. Local officials fear that Neil's social media stardom has outpaced what is safe for him. "Neil's fame is a bit of a double-edged sword," said Kris Carlyon from Tasmania's Department of Natural Resources and Environment, urging fans to give the seal privacy.

Officials have requested that the public refrain from disclosing Neil's current location, fearing a dangerous encounter could force rangers into a risky relocation operation. Carlyon warned, "There is a risk here of loving Neil to death," referencing the euthanization of a walrus named Freya in Norway after it drew large crowds and posed a risk to human safety.

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There is a risk here of loving Neil to death.