Neil the seal has had a close call with a fuel bowser in Hobart this evening, with wildlife authorities rushing to shoo the elephant seal away from the pumps before he got too close.
The playful 1,000-kilogram seal has been drawing large crowds to a beachside suburb in greater Hobart, with his antics on the road forcing Clarence Council to shut down a main route through the area today.
Some residents were left driving an extra 10 minutes to get home the long way.
Mukta Rohman, owner of the local service station, said Neil had not caused any damage to the servo but was grateful wildlife staff acted quickly.
“The people have been doing their job really well and they’ve been redirecting him really well,” Rohman told Pulse.
He said marine conservation staff had asked the store to turn off its lights early tonight in case the brightness was drawing the seal closer.
“We’re cooperating with them as best as we can,” he said.
Rohman described Neil as “like a lucky charm” for the area, saying the seal’s fame had lifted spirits.
“Obviously with the negativity that’s been going around… it’s good to see a fellow friend who came two years ago as well, who’s down here again,” he said.
Thousands of people have made their way to the area to catch a glimpse of the seal, but authorities have warned the attention could have serious consequences.
Almost 20,000 people have now signed a petition urging the state government to guarantee a non-lethal management plan for Neil and to rule out euthanasia, after a wildlife official warned it could not be taken off the table.
“Euthanasia is an irreversible action that must be completely ruled out,” the petition reads.
It calls for restricted access zones around Neil and fines for anyone who disturbs him.
Kris Carlyon, who runs the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania’s wildlife health and marine section, said some people were behaving dangerously around the seal.
“There is a risk here of essentially loving Neil to death,” Carlyon said.
“We’ve seen examples around the world where large, potentially dangerous animals have had to be euthanised if this risky behaviour by the public results in an unmanageable safety concern.”
He said euthanasia was not the department’s preferred approach but could not be ruled out if the public did not keep its distance.
Carlyon said people were carrying small babies close to Neil for photos and leaving food near him.
Authorities are asking visitors to stay at least 20 metres away and keep dogs on leads at least 50 metres back.
Neil was born in south-east Tasmania in 2020 and is expected to eventually reach around three tonnes.
