Kris Carlyon, a wildlife biologist with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, has put it bluntly: “There is a risk here of essentially loving Neil to death.”
Neil is a southern elephant seal born on Tasmania’s Tasman Peninsula in 2020. He weighs about 1,000 kilograms now. He first made headlines in 2022, when he hauled ashore in Hobart for his moulting season and started playing with traffic cones. By 2023 he was an online sensation, and officials began keeping his location secret to manage crowds. It did not work. Videos spread, and he has drawn about 1.4 million followers.
He is back for what is reportedly his 12th visit ashore, spending time on roads, beaches and public areas around Hobart.
The warning
Carlyon said authorities have seen large, potentially dangerous animals euthanised elsewhere when risky public behavior created an unmanageable safety concern. The case compared with Neil’s is Freya the walrus, who drew crowds in Norway in 2022 and was euthanised over public safety.
The warning drew fast backlash. Almost 30,000 people have signed a Change.org petition asking for restricted access zones around Neil’s known haunts. It states: “Euthanasia is an irreversible action that must be completely ruled out.”
What officials are doing
The department is leading a multi-agency response with Clarence City Council. The measures include round-the-clock security, council traffic controllers handling partial road closures, and more officers on the ground. It also uses enrichment toys and temporary barriers, with the aim of not disturbing Neil unless necessary. A spokesperson said: “While temporary barriers can help discourage him from leaving the beach, there is no practical way to permanently keep him on the beach.”
The fine for disturbing wildlife on reserve land in Tasmania is $808. In 2025 a tradie who had become “very fond” of Neil was fined $1,200 for allegedly disturbing him.
The department’s rules for anyone who meets him: stay at least 20 metres away, keep dogs on a leash and at least 50 metres away, make sure Neil always has a clear path back to the water, and follow any safety or traffic measures in place.
A bigger animal each year
Wildlife biologist Sam Thalmann has said Neil could reach 3,700 kilograms at full maturity. Young males need to rehearse the chest-crashing fights adults use to win breeding rights. With no other juveniles around, Neil rehearses on parked cars. He is expected to keep returning each year, and he is not likely to turn aggressive toward people.
