Over 50,000 people have signed a petition calling for authorities to use non-lethal measures to handle Tasmania’s beloved “Neil” the seal.
Neil, a five-year-old southern elephant seal, is a regular visitor to Australia’s Tasmania during moulting season, making his way off the beach onto a nearby suburban street where he soaks up the rays and wrestles traffic signage.
The teenage seal, which has a top wriggling speed of about 10 kilometres per hour, has become an online sensation, sparking memes, videos, and even T-shirts.
However, the media attention has spurred authorities to warn of “loving Neil to death” with Dr. Chris Carlyon of the state’s Department of Environment suggesting the seal could be moved or euthanised.
Derwent Valley Mayor Michelle Dracoulis, a former Labor member turned independent, took to social media to inform locals that “many of us can see where this is heading.”
“What looks like play now—smashing at cars, fences and garage doors, moving through residential areas, laying on roads and interacting closely with people and pets—has the potential to become genuinely dangerous for residents, visitors and for Neil himself,” she said on Facebook.
Dracoulis said Tasmanians needed to be “realistic” and “prepared for all possible outcomes.”
In response, local woman Natasha Young started the petition for Neil’s life.
“Neil is a local resident, born in Tasmania, and he has made the beaches, boat ramps, and lawns his temporary home twice a year,” she said.
“Local residents know and respect how to give Neil his space, but unfortunately, this local knowledge is often overlooked.
“The situation has been exacerbated by media outlets, which frequently broadcast Neil’s whereabouts, inadvertently increasing tourism and causing disruptions to his safe environment.”
Young said as Neil becomes a local resident, it was the job of the government to ensure he could continue to safely do so.
“Neil’s presence is not just significant to the ecological balance but also to the cultural tapestry of Tasmanian life,” she said.
“By safeguarding Neil, we are also protecting the heritage and natural beauty that draw people to our land.”
The Epoch Times contacted Environment Minister Nick Duigan, who the petition is directed to, for comment.
