When will ‘Neil the Seal’ return to the sea?
A serial land-loving southern elephant seal affectionately known as ‘Neil’ has called a Tasmanian carpark home since June – but his days out of the water could be numbered. LATEST UPDATES >>
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A serial land-loving southern elephant seal affectionately known as ‘Neil’ has called the Clifton Beach carpark home since June 23, but the department of natural resources and environment hopes he will soon return to the water.
According to the department, Neil is no longer undergoing his “obligatory” moult, which he came ashore to do.
“The seal is not currently undergoing moult, so there is nothing preventing it from returning to sea and biologists are hopeful that, after more than four weeks ashore, it will soon return to feed,” the department said.
Wildlife biologists from the Marine Conservation Program have considered and reassessed how to manage the seal during his time ashore.
“It has been the expert opinion of the wildlife biologists and departmental vets that intervention to move the seal would only be undertaken if absolutely necessary,” the department said.
“Sedation and relocation can incur significant risks to the seal and would likely be a temporary solution as it could haul up at another human-populated location.”
“Relocation would only be considered if the seal or members of the public were at undue risk.”
Wildlife Biologist Dr Kris Carlyon said it is important people don’t harass the seal or get too close (within 20 metres).
“While elephant seals are not likely to attack if unprovoked and can appear calm and relaxed, he is still a large, wild animal,” Dr Carlyon said.
Word of Neil’s carpark shenanigans spread fast around Tasmania with plenty of people taking the drive from the city to meet the interesting visitor.
An Instagram account was even set up in his honour.
According to the department of natural resources, Neil was born on the Tasman Peninsula in October 2020, a rare occurrence in Tasmania.
He previously came ashore in Woodbridge, but needed to be sedated and relocated after wandering along a main road several times.
“The seal is simply ashore to rest. It’s normal behaviour for seals to come ashore in Tasmania to rest and they can come ashore for indefinite periods of time and will return to the sea to forage when they are ready,” Dr Carlyon said.
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