Neil the Seal spotted on East Coast after getting cosy at Kingston Beach

After becoming somewhat of a celebrity at Kingston Beach, the boisterous seal can’t stay away from Tasmanian shores after being spotted on the East coast. DETAILS >>

A popular Tasmanian resident was recently spotted on the East coast after making a splash by surfing onto Kingston Beach two weeks ago.

An elephant seal believed to be the iconic Neil the seal, has been spotted near Bicheno basking in the sun, 185km North East of Hobart, for the past few days.

The seal appears to be wearing a scientific tracker on its head in some photos.

Neil the seal spotted at Bicheno over the past couple of days with a scientific tracker on his head. Photo: Instagram

Neil the seal spotted at Bicheno over the past couple of days. Photo: Instagram

Neil the Seal recently made a splash after Tasmanians visited the 400kg seal in droves at Kingston Beach.

Neil was moved to a different location on the southeast coast after concerns of safety risks by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania.

People who spot the seal are being urged to stay back and keep at least a 20m distance.

Southern elephant seals are a threatened species.

It is an offence to interfere with wildlife.

Anyone with concerns about the seal can call the marine mammal hotline on 0427 942 537.

Kingston Beach seal-ebrity evicted after ‘harassment’ and ‘safety risks’

A 400kg elephant seal, which has been lounging about at Kingston Beach over the last few days, has been relocated after too many people harassed it.

It’s believed ‘Neil the seal’ came ashore earlier this week to rest and moult, settling in beside the toilet block at the popular beach.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania urged members of the public to keep their distance from the juvenile seal, after receiving reports of youths harassing and touching him.

“Sadly, some people have not taken this advice and have continued to gather close to the seal, dogs have been brought to the area, and the department received reports of people harassing the seal,” an NRE Tas spokesperson said.

“In considering ongoing safety risks, including being near a road, and balanced with the need for animals to maintain their wild behaviours for long-term survival, a decision was made to relocate the seal to a safer location in the southeast.”

Marine Conservation Program wildlife biologist Sam Thalmann said it would be a problem if the seal had too many interactions with humans

“That’s a very large animal and potentially dangerous if provoked,” he said.

“We want to see Neil reach adulthood and beyond safely so it’s critical he doesn’t get used to being near humans.”

The department spokesperson said it was an offence to interfere with wildlife.

‘Stay away from Neil’: Warning as youths allegedly harass, touch seal

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania are urging people to “stay away” from a threatened seal after reports youths allegedly “harassed and touched” the animal.

The seal, affectionately known as Neil, surfed into Kingston Beach on Tuesday evening and made himself comfortable near a toilet block across Osborne Esplanade for the past two nights.

Since his arrival, hundreds of onlookers have taken photos of the seal, and made attempts to crowd the animal for a closer look.

A spokesperson from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania said they urge the public to stay “at least 20 metres away from the animal”.

“Following reports of youths harassing and touching a southern elephant seal hauled out near Kingston Beach, members of the public are again reminded to stay at least 20m away from the animal,” the spokesperson said.

“Southern elephant seals are a threatened species and it is an offence to interfere with wildlife.”`

Marine Conservation Program wildlife biologist Sam Thalmann said seals were “wild animals” and it was “unacceptable to touch and harass the animals”.

“It puts the individuals and the seal at risk,” he said.

“Elephant seals may seem unbothered by humans and people may think patting a wild animal makes good social media content, but the seal could be dangerous if harassed.”

Mr Thalmann said he did not want to be in a position where “human or animal safety” was at risk.

Biologists will continue to monitor the seal and will seek assistance from Tasmania Police where required.

Anyone with concerns about the seal can call the marine mammal hotline on 0427 942 537.

Chillin’: showstopping seal settles for second night at popular beach

Earlier: A beloved 400kg seal – weighing a third of a Volkswagen Beetle – has made himself comfortable for a second night at Kingston Beach, and is slowly waddling his way toward the roadway.

The southern elephant seal, commonly known as Neil, surfed into Kingston Beach on Tuesday before settling in beside a toilet block for the past two nights.

It comes as the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania have reminded onlookers to let Neil rest, and to keep their distance.

On Thursday morning, a crowd onlookers remained at the site snapping photos of the seal as he looked to be making his way back across the Osborne Esplanade toward the beach.

More to come.

Tassie’s favourite seal surfs into Kingston Beach

Tassie’s favourite serial land-loving seal has surfed into Kingston Beach, attracting crowds of onlookers taking pictures of the 400kg animal.

The southern elephant seal affectionately known as Neil travelled across sand, up a ramp and across the road before resting in front of a toilet block last night.

Marine Conservation Program wildlife biologist Sam Thalmann said the usual elephant seal annual season would mean breeding males would come ashore at two different times of year.

“Within a normal elephant seals annual cycle, he may have come ashore to rest,” he said.

“He’s not undertaking the moult because we know he’s malted in September.

“We know he’s not coming ashore to breed so he’s coming ashore to rest this time and maybe to seek interaction with other elephant seals.”

Mr Thalmann said besides the two periods where the elephant come ashore, they’re completely at sea.

“They are phenomenal pelagic open ocean, marine mammals,” he said.

“They surpass their diving skills, they surpass most of the whales, they dive deeper and they stay down longer.”

Neil the seal was one of the rare pups that had been born in Tasmania.

“We’ve had about six pups in the last 10 years born on mainland Tasmania,” Mr Thalmann said.

“We wanted to track him to ascertain his survivorship to see if he does live past being a young pup born in what is probably not their normal homelands now, his mother was probably from Macquarie Island.

“They’re very inquisitive. Neil has spent some time in Clifton Beach, and also in the Southern Channel around Verona Sands and Randalls Bay.”

Members of the public are being asked to keep their distance from Neil the seal for their safety.

“It is important people stay at least 20m from the animal and don’t disturb it,” Mr Thalmann said.

“Pets should be kept on a leash and away from the seal. While it may appear calm and relaxed, it is still a large wild animal.”

Sharon Robertson was about to go on her morning walk when she received a call from her son who told her the 2.5m seal was around the corner.

“You don’t expect to see a seal,” she said.

“He said there were so many people and I thought, well, I’m walking now, schools in, there won’t be many people here. So I was lucky.”

The 70-year-old who has lived in Kingston Beach for 42 years has never seen a seal like Neil at the beach before.

“It’s absolutely unbelievable,” she said.

“I don’t want to leave, I want to stay all day.”

Neil the seal was born on the Tasman Peninsula in October 2020 which is considered to be a rare occurrence in Tasmania.

Last year, Neil set up camp at Clifton Beach in July to rest and moult.

Belinda Holder of Margate has been tracking Neil and heard about his whereabouts through the Kingborough Community Page on social media.

“He was down at Clifton Beach probably 12 months ago and he was down there for months,” she said.

“But even seeing something like this in the community, it’s nice that people are staying back because at Clifton people were getting too close.

“A lot of the people there made sure he was safe. He was basically part of their family. They were looking after him and stuff.”

An Instagram account was created in the Neil’s honour after his brief home at Clifton Beach.

Originally published as Neil the Seal spotted on East Coast after getting cosy at Kingston Beach