Tasmania’s Neil the seal spotted at local beach
One beachgoer shares her relief that Neil is alive and well after spotting him during an afternoon walk. WATCH HERE >>
Tasmania
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The loveable larrikin, Neil the seal, is back on our beaches having popped up once again in the state’s south.
Bridget Males was one local who noticed the Tassie celebrity while out walking her dogs on Tuesday.
Standing from a distance, she was able to capture video of the southern elephant seal as it challenged a bollard to a one-sided duel.
Neil was caught ignoring his old nemeses of nearby traffic cones, and instead gnawing and slamming his body down against the wooden stump.
“Neil looks like he has grown!” she said.
“I didn’t see him at first, and I went closer to look at the construction at the surf club, when I got closer I realised Neil was having a rest in the construction zone that was taped off.
“It was really reassuring to see him again, our local celebrity is back!”
Neil was also spotted at the same location on Wednesday afternoon.
She encouraged people to stay 20m away from him and to keep dogs on leads.
That sentiment is one the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, who have always advised everyone to keep their distance and dogs to be on a lead 50m away from seals.
Southern elephant seals are the largest of all seals with males reaching 4-5m in length and 3500kg in weight. They come ashore to rest and moult after spending extended periods foraging at sea and may remain on land for periods of up to four to five weeks.
NRE Tasmania warns they shouldn’t be disturbed during this time as seals can be dangerous if approached.
Neil, who regularly hauls out in busy Tassie towns and is known to interact with people, was born in Salem Bay in 2020.
Sightings or concerns about the seal can be reported to the marine mammal hotline on 0427 WHALES (0427 942 537).
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Originally published as Tasmania’s Neil the seal spotted at local beach
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