Neil the Seal Returns to Tasmania, Prompting Safety Warnings After Viral Fame

Neil, a 5-year-old, 2,200-pound southern elephant seal, has returned to the Australian island state of Tasmania after spending several months at sea. His latest visit has once again made him an internet sensation as his massive size creates property damage, traffic delays and plenty of viral moments.

Since returning in June, Neil has been spotted lounging in neighborhoods, flattening traffic cones and damaging fences as he makes himself at home. Reports say he has even bent seal warning signs that were installed throughout the area.

While Neil's antics have entertained millions online, wildlife officials are concerned that his growing fame could encourage dangerous interactions between people and the seal.

Since first appearing on land several years ago, Neil has amassed more than 1 million followers on TikTok, where videos show him causing chaos throughout the neighborhood.

Experts say his behavior is perfectly natural.

"Juvenile male elephant seals practice dominance behaviors before they begin competing with adult males," said Sophia Volzke, an elephant seal scientist at the University of Tasmania, in an interview with NBC News.

Local officials are urging people not to share Neil's exact location in hopes of discouraging visitors from seeking him out. They fear that a dangerous encounter between Neil and a fan could force wildlife rangers to relocate or even euthanize the seal if public safety becomes a serious concern.

Officials point to the case of Freya, a walrus in Norway that drew large crowds before authorities euthanized her in 2022 after determining she posed an increasing risk to public safety.

"There is a risk here of essentially loving Neil to death," Kris Carlyon of Tasmania's Department of Natural Resources and Environment told NBC News.

If Neil reaches adulthood, he could grow to about 16 feet long and weigh more than three times his current weight.

"Neil's still young, but at five years old and already weighing in at around a ton, he's only going to get bigger, stronger and more territorial as he matures," Mayor Michelle Dracoulis said in a social media post.

Officials remind residents and visitors to stay at least 65 feet away from Neil — or, as local authorities jokingly put it, "about six Neils away."