Tasmanian elephant seal Neil captivates
Photo: Sam Volker/AP/TT

Tasmanian elephant seal Neil captivates millions, but authorities urge public to keep away

He wrestles with cars, has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media and weighs over a thousand kilograms. The young elephant seal Neil is rampaging along the coast of Tasmania, and authorities are asking the public to keep their distance.

Parked cars or barriers designed to keep him off the roads - no obstacle is too big or heavy for "Neil the seal", who more or less advances like a steamroller in communities on the Tasmanian coast, to which he regularly returns.

The elephant seal's behaviour is fascinating - perhaps because of his behaviour. With a following of over a million on TikTok, Neil has become an internet icon. But Australian authorities are concerned that his celebrity is becoming harmful to him and are now asking the public to stay away.

There is a risk that, as he moves on, he will harm people who want to catch a glimpse of him.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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