Neil the Seal shut down a road at Seven Mile Beach earlier today after the one-tonne elephant seal parked himself at a busy intersection.
Tasmania Police said they attended the intersection of Esplanade and Surf Road around 10am after Neil became a traffic hazard.
The road was closed and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment was called in to help move him.
Neil, now estimated to weigh around 1,000 kilograms, knocked down bollards on his way through the area.
Neil eventually headed back toward the beach, where onlookers gathered to watch.
His size has forced wildlife experts to change how they handle relocations.
In an earlier visit he was lifted onto a trailer using a tarp and a team of people, but that is no longer considered possible.
“Even small movements from a large wild animal can cause serious injury,” NRE Tas said.
“As a subadult, his behaviour has changed and techniques used during previous visits have been updated to ensure everyone’s safety.”
Some community members have questioned the methods used to move him, but the department said padded poles and noise were “a standard, internationally recognised approach used by trained wildlife experts.”
“These methods are designed to safely guide the animal without causing harm,” it said.
Neil was born in 2020 and first rose to fame in July 2022 after playing with traffic cones during his moulting period in southern Tasmania.
Videos of him blocking roads, napping on lawns and knocking over bollards have since drawn millions of views on TikTok and Instagram.
The department urged people to stay at least 20 metres away from Neil and to keep dogs on a lead at least 50 metres away.
People are also asked not to share his location to protect him from crowds.
Sightings or concerns can be reported to the marine mammal hotline on 0427 942 537.
