Neil the Seal is causing havoc at Dunalley here in Tasmania down the south. Now Neil the Seal was born in Tasmania down on the Peninsular in October 2020, and with no other seals around at all which is unusual, Mum took off and left Neil after about 3 weeks of nursing abruptly weeing him and left Neil to fend for himself, so he's not used to having other seals for company. Because Salem Bay is where he was born in Tasmania, he thinks it's his real home, so he comes home. 😁He came home for his winter 'moult'. Apparently Neil has done his thing, is now gone till next time.
The Video is curtesy of the Guardian newspaper.
Neil is a Southern Elephant Seal. He refuses to go back into the sea during these two periods he comes home for his welfare reason and to do his thing in the nature world. However he disrupts traffic, lies in the middle of the road, pushes boulders over and is destructive. Of course he is a tourist attraction during these times and people are asked to stay 20 meters away from Neil. He weights about 1,000 kg (1 tonne and about 3 meters long). Neil is also guarded by humans 24/7 as far as I am aware.
There is a lot more I could write about Neil the Seal but there would be a lot of reading, so I have left it, and of course there is much on the internet about him.
I borrowed these photos. Where those faint yellow stars are is where Dunnally is.
He has a strange behavior. When he's not used to being with other seals, it's understandable that he doesn't know how the other seals behave.
ReplyDeleteYes it seems he's a bit odd but then I don't know about other seals if in a similar situation. I do believe he mixes with other seals now, and for sure he will in a few years when he is looking for a mate.
DeleteEven here in Germany, there are reports about him on TV! Thanks for this information and the photos! Greetings from the North Sea coast of Germany, Elke
ReplyDeleteOh really, so far away and he has been on the TV. Amazing Elke. Thanks for telling me that.
DeleteHow cute is Neil! I wonder how it's going to happen to it in future...
ReplyDeleteHopefully he will be ok in the future but seals when they get to a certain age can become more destructive and troublesome, so we will have to wait and see I suppose.
DeleteHe's so cute. Love his face.
ReplyDeleteHe is cute Mary.
DeleteDear Margaret, I absolutely loved this! Neil the Seal!!! I love his name, he is really cute and quite a mischief maker! :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a mischief maker Linda and we sometimes wonder what he will do next.
DeleteOhhhh I love him. He is amazing with his antics. Thank you for sharing this. Made my day.
ReplyDelete😉Oh I'm glad it made your day, Nicole. You are welcome.
DeleteTo je krásný a zajímavý příběh! Je fakt, že nepoznal soužití s jinými tuleni a tak nemá tu svoji smečku. Nemusí se starat o nic a je vlastně mediální hvězdou. 😊
ReplyDeleteDěkuji za sdílení, jinak bych se o něm nedozvěděla!
You are welcome. I believe he has seal friends now, it was when he was much younger not that he is old now.
DeleteI loved this post about him, thank you Margaret. He is a big fella isn’t he?
ReplyDeleteHe certainly is a big seal and will become larger I believe...so we will have to look out for his antics next time he comes home.
DeleteI look forward to seeing those too, thanks Margaret :)
DeleteHe sure is getting a lot of international attention.
ReplyDeleteDon't seals stink???
Lovely sunny day here at Terrigal.
Yesterday even with school holidays the beach was surfer free.
Just the few motorised young ones trying to break legs, arm or neck!!!.
Cheers
Colin
So I hear he is, Colin getting a lot of attention far and wide it seems.
DeleteI presume they might smell but I don't know as I've never been close enough to find out.
Well the young ones have to have a bit of clean fun, Colin.
Uy es tan lindo. Te mando un beso y te deseo un buen fin de semana.
ReplyDeleteThank you, and same to you too.
DeleteI think there has been a mention of Neil everyday somewhere since his return. I hadn't realised he was so destructive.
ReplyDeleteOh he is destructive, he headed for the service station and you can imagine what a mess he would have made if he got to a bowser, so a board was put between him and that bowers and a human had to try and entice him away from it. He had to be kept away from cars and so on..
DeleteI wonder if Neil would have turned out differently if his mother hadn't abandoned him so early. With her mothering and teaching, would he have just been a regular seal? one of the crowd? We will never know..
ReplyDeleteWe will never know but she certainly wasn't around long enough to teach him any manners R.
DeleteI believe I have read about it somewhere, but not in detail.
ReplyDeleteSeems many countries have heard about Neil which I didn't know so many had.
DeleteI have seen him in the news lying on land or sand, but it didn't look comfortable for a rather fat and floppy body. Seals are sleek because they spend most of their lives in the ocean. I hope Neil makes some friends soon, especially ocean-going friends.
ReplyDeleteNow that he's gone back to the sea, I'm sure he will find some other seals and in a few years he certainly will Hels.
DeleteI love seals, that childlike look of theirs, their gentle ears...
ReplyDeleteThey are such a beautiful creature. They are so large but look gentle.
DeleteIt is Neal’s world, and we are just living in it.
ReplyDeleteThat's so true especially in the sea and on rocks.
DeleteIt is really very special that the seal is staying in the town.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't seen anything about it on TV here.
I wish you a very good weekend, Margaret.
Thank you Irma. OK, about not seeing him on your TV there, some countries reported it I believe.
DeleteSuper post! I'm glad people pretty much leave him alone-- for his sake, and for theirs.
ReplyDeleteYes people try to get close, but the distance was 20 meters for everyone's safety.
DeleteThank you.
Such a marvelous creature.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting one too.
DeleteI hope he gets to live a long and happy life. If humans are temporarily inconvenienced - too bad!
ReplyDeleteI don't think humans are inconvenienced regarding Neil the Seal, David. Never heard of anyone complaining. We all hope lives a good life, he has a tracker on him apparently guess it's still there.
DeleteHello Margaret,
ReplyDeleteThis is so special to see that Elephant Seal. Nice to read he comes back for times on that place. So nice!!
Many greetings,
Marco
Yes, it is nice to see he returns to where he was born, let's hope he continues to come but he does get rather naughty Marco.
DeleteWow! Awesome post!
ReplyDeleteThank you Anne.
DeleteUna criatura adorable, Margaret. Un abrazo.
ReplyDeleteHe sure is Gil.
DeletePoor Neil. Life in the big city is probably not a great place for him to hang out.
ReplyDeleteThat is true but he was in a country town which is small, so that is better.
DeleteImpresionantes las imagenes que has captado y nos brindas
ReplyDeleteOnly way to tell his story Ildefonso is through the photos and the video and that we get to know what he gets up to.
DeleteNeil's story is wild, it makes total sense why he thinks Dunalley is his personal playground since he lacked a normal colony growing up. Visualizing a one-tonne seal casually blocking traffic or moving boulders is hilarious, though having humans guard him round the clock shows how much the community cares about keeping him safe. The fact that he just chooses to chill on land for his winter moult rather than staying at sea shows how headstrong he is. It must be an incredible sight for the tourists, provided they actually keep that safe twenty-meter boundary. Hopefully, our favorite giant neighbor enjoys his time out at sea until he decides to drop by for his next neighborhood infrastructure inspection.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how nature works with animals Melody and we all can learn from these creatures.
DeleteI saw Neil on TV too. He's quite the character, and it's amazing how one enormous seal has become such a local celebrity.
ReplyDeleteI suppose many people and children haven't seen Neil before so took the trip to see him. Neil is on our TV news, social media so people obviously decide to visit him as it's publicized.
DeleteSounds like the making of a celebrity. What an interesting seal, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteA naughty celebrity it seems, Bill.
DeleteYou are welcome.
There Is Something So Cute About That Face - Maybe Its Those Mysterious Eyes - Love All Those Animals I Tell Ya - Just Love 'em
ReplyDeleteWalk On ,
Cheers
He has got a cute expression on his face in some of the photos. Sucks us in.
DeleteWhat a beautiful little face!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing story!!
Thank you for publishing it!
You are welcome and yes, a cute face in some of the photos.
DeleteWell I enjoyed reading about Neil the Seal ... and he has got the most adorable face :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Yes it's cute Jan in most of his photo.
DeleteNeil really has carved out his own legend in Dunalley!
ReplyDeleteHard to imagine a one‑tonne seal just lounging in the road like it’s his living room. Thanks for sharing his story -- it’s both hilarious and fascinating.
Have I mentioned before how much I love your blog?
Thank you Veronica 😉that is very nice of you.
DeleteYes, it is a fun post but a serious one at the same time. You are most welcome.
Despite the inconveniences and problems it causes, it's wonderful to see them return every year to what they consider their home. It's a beautiful story. Not long ago, I saw a movie based on real events about a penguin that did the same thing, traveling great distances every year to return to its home and the fisherman who rescued and cared for it.
ReplyDeleteNature is beautiful like that.
Regards.
Sounds a beautiful story about the penguin. It's good they have a home to go to really.
DeleteMa dai è incredibile!
ReplyDeleteChe bello poter vedere un bestione simile dal vivo ... Anche se fa qualche danno, poverino
It gives the humans something to do when it leaves, repairing things..
DeleteLinda historia. Me ha gustado conocerlo.
ReplyDeleteBuena semana.
Un abrazo.
He is a big one and it is good to get to know and see him.
DeleteAuf dem Bild sieht sein Gesicht sehr freundlich aus. Aber es ist sicher vernünftig, Abstand zu halten. Hoffentlich findet die große Robbe einen Artgenossen, diese Tiere sind ja von Natur aus sehr gesellig.
ReplyDeleteHe has such a cute face then a lot of animals do. Best keep the distance as advised by the authorities as they don't want anyone hurt.
DeleteQue interesante Margaret, me gustó saber de el. Un abrazo fuerte.
ReplyDeleteThank you Teresa, it's a something different to know about.
DeleteI've heard of Neil the Seal's goings-on! :D Great photos!
ReplyDeleteOh did you now, amazing how news travels 😉
DeleteRealmente é uma situação incomum e por isso se torna notícia.
ReplyDeleteDesejo que tenha uma ótima semana.
Abraço de amizade.
Juvenal Nunes
Thank you. Yes, it is unusual, but it will happen again.
DeleteThanks for your post. This seal is interesting. It might come up to the beach to tell us something under the sea.
ReplyDeleteIt goes to the beach and lays there, it goes a lot of places actually.
DeleteBut isn’t he a cutie!?!? 😂🩷
ReplyDeleteHugs
Donna
It certainly looks a cutie, Donna.
DeleteMe ha encantado leerte, tu post super interesante mil gracias por compartir! Besos y buen día.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome and I'm pleased you like it. Thank you.
DeleteNeil the seal is an impressive and beautiful animal ❤️
ReplyDeleteWe all like to return home, and that's what Neil does by returning to the place where he was born. The inconveniences caused are certainly being overcome by those who watch over him, and I believe that everyone wants the best for Neil.