A motorist was forced to brake his Toyota LandCruiser 4WD after being “surprised” by a bizarre find in the middle of the road. Staring back at him was the cheeky face of Tasmania’s favourite wild seal.
“I didn’t know he was back. And he was at a different place to where he normally cruises around,” Ian Womack told Yahoo News on Tuesday morning.
Neil the Seal frequently attracts worldwide attention when he visits Hobart and its surroundings. Experts have described his antics, which include blocking streets, lounging on front door steps, and crushing traffic cones, as “classic, teenage southern elephant seal behaviours”.
Womack, who runs a rescue sanctuary, was picking up food for his 150 animals on Monday morning when he spotted Neil. Money is tight and the work is hard so seeing the seal delivered an unexpected moment of joy.
“If you zoom in on his face he’s got a smile on his face as well. He’s a well-loved character in the local area,” he said.
Related: 😳 Neil the Seal’s wild behaviour set to change in two years
Neil the Seal habitually causes a little chaos when he rolls into Hobart. Source: neiltheseal22/@sarague89
‘Sad’ reason we can’t tell you where Neil was spotted
Because Neil is known to draw large crowds, Yahoo has withheld the location of his latest appearance. Every time he visits, the male seal is noticeably larger, and although he seems friendly wild seals can be dangerous and should never be approached.
Womack has seen worrying behaviour during previous visits to his region. “When he was pushed on social media last time it became a bit sad. There were a lot of tourists who went too close, didn’t give him respect, and some almost sat on top of him to get a selfie,” he said.
Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources (NRE Tas) confirmed with Yahoo that it’s not just Neil’s behaviour being monitored this year.
“NRE Tas… is collaborating with other authorities including police and local government to monitor the seal and human behaviour when the seal is ashore,” it said.
“The public is asked to stay away for seal welfare and human safety reasons.”
Neil the Seal was just a little pup in 2020, and he’s grown larger every year. Source: NRE Tas
It reinforced a call not to identify Neil’s location, and offered some tips about interpreting the seal’s mannerisms and behaviour.
“People ‘visiting’ this seal creates safety risks for the seal and humans, can cause traffic issues, disrupt nearby residents and affect the seal’s long-term behaviour and survival,” it said.
“Resting on shore for several weeks is normal seal behaviour. A wide open mouth is also normal but is not yawning or playing, it is a sign the seal is feeling threatened and to move away. Wild animals are unpredictable and can be dangerous if harassed.”
People need to keep a distance of at least 20 metres, and dogs which can be seen as a threat, need to be leashed and no closer than 50 metres.
You can find out more about Ian’s work at Eventide Sanctuary here.
Love Australia’s weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.