1,000-Kilogram Elephant Seal Neil Returns to Sea After 10 Tasmania Visits
Updated
Updated · CBC Sports · Jul 17
1,000-Kilogram Elephant Seal Neil Returns to Sea After 10 Tasmania Visits
3 articles · Updated · CBC Sports · Jul 17
Summary
July 9 saw Neil, a 1,000-kilogram southern elephant seal, head back to sea after another disruptive stop on Tasmania, where residents expect him to return within months.
More than 10 visits since 2020 have made Neil a local spectacle because he rests, fasts and sheds on the island, sometimes damaging property and sprawling across residential areas.
Only nine known elephant seals were born on Tasmania, officials say, making Neil’s appearances near people unusually rare and a challenge for wildlife managers.
Tasmania authorities are urging residents to keep their distance, warning the five-year-old seal can move quickly, may become habituated to humans and could face a risky relocation if encounters go badly.
Scientists say coexistence is the goal as Neil is still growing and could eventually top 3,000 kilograms, ensuring his visits will remain a recurring issue.