- People love him, despite all the ruin he brings.
A celebrity has returned to Tasmania on his annual tour. This famous personality, however, is not a rock star, sportsperson, or politician.
Instead, he’s Neal the Elephant Seal.
For the last few years, Neal has crawled out of the ocean in southern Tasmania. He sticks around for a couple of weeks to shed his old fur before returning to wherever his regular residence is.
Locals have taken a shine to Neal, and his arrival has become a small cause of celebration. Looky-loos arrive from near and far to take pictures of the rare visitor and have a laugh at his antics.
And there are antics aplenty. Although he might be entertaining, Neal causes significant property damage during each of his visits as the curious seal smashes and crushes public infrastructure and private vehicles alike.
Yet, there’s not much Tasmanian authorities can do except urge the public to keep their distance until Neal decides to leave. After all, how would you carry 2,000 pounds of uncooperative blubber back into the sea?
Local Star
According to estimates, Neal is a roughly 5.5-year-old southern elephant seal. He has arrived on the beaches near Hobart in southern Tasmania for the past five years – meaning he’s been a fan of the place for his entire life.
Neal first showed up in 2022, and he immediately became a local celebrity. At the time, he was very young, relatively small for an elephant seal, and full of puppy energy.
These traits quickly endeared the locals to their unusual visitor. He reached wider fame when videos of him playing with traffic cones went viral.
Since then, Neal has appeared every summer somewhere near Hobart. He doesn’t come for the fame, however, but to molt.
At this time, Neal sheds his old fur and skin in large (and gross, if we’re honest) patches. Yet, despite his occasionally partially-skinned appearance, he still remains popular, attracting visitors who flock to Hobart to get a glimpse of the unique visitor.
Now He’s a Man
However, although his visits might be all fun and games to Neal, they’re not for everyone around him. Since his first visit as a baby, Neal has grown into a mature elephant seal male.
And boy howdy, has he grown.
Today, Neal’s estimated weight runs upward of 2,200 pounds. No one’s tried measuring him, but he’s about as long as a small car.
As with every teenager growing into an adult, Neal’s behavior has changed as well. While he was initially playful, if a bit timid, he’s self-confidence has grown in proportion with his girth.
“He’s certainly growing and with that his confidence is probably growing a fair bit as well,” wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon told Pulse Tasmania.
Consequently, Neal is not afraid of much anything around him. And as his molting goes on, he often wants to relieve his itchy skin by rubbing himself on sturdy objects around him.
Unfortunately, Neal is often sturdier than his scratching sticks.
He has crushed fences, lampposts, bollards, trash cans, and even cars while scratching himself against them. Neal has also blocked traffic by deciding to nap in the middle of a busy road.
The total extent of the damage he’s caused is unknown, but Neal certainly keeps adding to the tally every year.
Nothing to Do But Wait
Due to his destructive habits, local authorities have urged the public to stay at least 50 yards away from Neal. Although he seems friendly and curious, he is a gigantic beast and turning into an adult has made Neal a bit unpredictable.
Elephant seals can be territorial and aggressive, not to mention shockingly quick for their size. Although their aggression peaks during mating season, it’s probably best not to tick Neal off.
As such, the authorities are asking people not to share Neal’s current location to prevent crowds from gathering around him. Although they’re trying to keep Neal from causing too much chaos, there’s not a whole lot they can do.
“We employ an adaptive management strategy. We’re constantly trialing and testing new things, and as Neil works out how to get around those, we’re introducing new techniques as well,” Carlyon commented on how the authorities are trying to control Neal.
In the end, though, all they can do is wait for him to return to the ocean. Then, they can repair the damage while awaiting Neal’s return the next year.