As Tasmania’s most famous inhabitant heads back to the ocean, wildlife specialists caution that Neil the Seal’s appearances are far from over.
Neil, a five-year-old elephant seal, was born on Tasmania’s peninsula in 2020 and consistently makes his way back to the area twice each year.
Even though elephant seals typically congregate in groups on sub-Antarctic islands of the Southern Ocean, an innate drive pushes Neil to return alone to the shores of his birthplace.
Stretching three metres in length and weighing nearly a tonne, Neil has become an online sensation. Tourists are drawn from across the globe to see the playful seal, who has a knack for effortlessly toppling fences and posts.
According to Dr. Kris Carlyon, the wildlife health and marine expert at Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Neil’s solitary nature drives this unique behavior from the hefty, 1,000kg seal pup.
“At the moment, there’s a number of bollards that he likes interacting with,” Carlyon said.
“He’s got no other seals to play with, to joust with, to test his strength with — like he would be doing normally, so he chooses things to interact with.”
But in recent days, Neil’s been nowhere to be found. It seems his winter 2026 reign of terror has ended, and he’s now returned to the ocean after completing his annual moult.
An elephant seal’s annual moult
While mainly relying on a thick layer of blubber to stay warm, elephant seals also have a fur coat that is shed and regrown each year.
While they’re in the ocean, the species’ blood flow is directed to the core of their bodies to keep their vital organs functioning. They come onto land to moult so they can redirect blood flow to their skin without their internal organs getting too cold.
Once on land, they first lose tiny flakes of old brown or yellow fur. As time passes, larger chunks of fur begin to shed, revealing the new silver fur underneath.
During the major shed, elephant seals can appear sick or diseased and often throw sand over their bodies to cool down.
While on land, most elephant seals fast and so lose excessive body weight. After shedding, they return to the ocean to hunt and rebuild their blubber reserve.
The moulting process takes anywhere between four and six weeks. Females typically moult between March and May, and males between June and late August.
So, while Neil might be gone for now, it’s expected he’ll return next winter.
A ‘wild seal, not a pet’
Ahead of Neil’s expected reappearance, wildlife experts like Carlyon are warning that Neil’s popularity could be putting him and others in danger.
“We have had some pretty silly behaviour [including] instances with people carrying their small babies up close to him and simply trying to get that shot for Instagram,” he told SBS News.
“Neil’s not inherently aggressive in the sense that some other animals might be. He’ll certainly defend his space, and if he feels threatened, he may lash out.”
The public has been urged to stay at least 20 metres away from Neil and keep their dogs on a leash and under control. They’ve also been told to not touch, feed or approach him, or block his access to water.
Carlyon said people need to remember that Neil is a “wild seal, not a pet”, warning that an incident could lead to Neil being relocated or even euthanised.
“Relocating wild seals is not a simple exercise. It involves sedation and transport, which can be stressful and carries inherent risks for the animal and the personnel involved,” he said.
Community members have banded together to launch a petition calling for greater protection of Neil, including the creation of restricted-access zones around Neil’s known habitats. The petition has garnered almost 79,000 signatures.
Despite the fuss and potential danger, Carlyon said Neil’s annual appearances are a great sign for Tasmania’s wildlife.
“Regardless of the resource burden and the challenges that Neil throws, we are pleased to see him and think that this could be part of some threatened species recovery.”