More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling on Tasmanian authorities to rule out euthanising Neil the seal.
The Change.org petition, launched by Tash Young, reached the milestone in less than three weeks.
It urges Environment Minister Guy Barnett and Parks Minister Nick Duigan to commit to a non-lethal management plan for the elephant seal.
The petition calls for exclusion zones to be set up wherever Neil rests, fines for anyone who gets too close and measures to keep main roads clear.
“Euthanasia is an irreversible action that must be completely ruled out,” it reads.
Neil has drawn international attention by hauling out on beaches around southern Tasmania, attracting crowds eager to see him up close.
On July 3, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, Clarence City Council and other agencies, including Tasmania Police, agreed to develop a comprehensive management framework for his future visits.
The plan will cover Neil’s welfare, traffic and crowd control, exclusion zones and enforcement. It will also be made available to other councils.
The issue reached the Clarence City Council on Monday night, when councillor Emma Goyne moved to formalise the council’s role in protecting the seal.
“Council cannot manage a 4,000-kilo elephant seal, but we can manage people,” Goyne said.
“We can manage crowds, traffic, information, expectations, education, enforcement and coordination before Neil’s next visit.”
“If we get that right, we protect Neil’s welfare, improve our public safety, build public confidence and create a framework that could guide councils across Tasmania.”
Her motion was voted down, with several councillors arguing the work was already underway.
Greens councillor Beth Warren said the motion noted measures that were already being taken and requested an update the council would have received anyway.
“The people who are responsible for dealing with wildlife are dealing with this,” Warren said.
Councillor Tony Mulder argued the attention surrounding Neil was itself the danger.
“We need a management plan for people who endanger themselves by seeking to engage in a dangerous manner,” he said.
“We also might need a plan to stop people promoting this as a tourist attraction because that is what is causing the problem.”
He warned a serious incident would likely spell the end of Neil.
Neil was born in south-east Tasmania in 2020 and now weighs about 1,000 kilograms. He could eventually reach about three tonnes.
He has since returned to the water.
Penalties already apply for disturbing native wildlife, with people asked to stay at least 20 metres away.
