Residents of a small village in Tasmania are currently battling an unusual plague: an adult elephant seal is terrorizing the village, blocking roads, inconveniencing residents and tearing down barriers. Due to his bad behavior, the portly sea creature has now mutated into an internet star.
Dunalley has a population of about 300 plus a cheeky elephant seal that fans have dubbed ‘Neil the Seal’. But the heaviest resident, who weighs more than a ton, always causes trouble when he passes through the city on his shore excursions. When the giant seal is exhausted from his adventures, he likes to lie down on the street or in front of a parked car to rest.
“Best excuse not to come to work”
A villager didn’t get to work on time because ‘Neil’ got in the way of her car. “I think this will go down in Australian history as the best excuse not to come to work,” she joked to ABC News.
He also targets roadblocks, some of which are placed by police for his safety. He is regularly filmed attacking them. Recently he even managed to knock down a fence. He also does not seem to be afraid of people: he likes to lie in gardens or attack entire groups of people and scare the hell out of those affected.
Despite – or perhaps because of – its bad manners, the elephant seal has countless fans on social media. More than 350,000 people follow him on TikTok and he has more than 56,000 followers on Instagram.
“Neil” is already a case for the Ministry of the Environment
As befits a true celebrity, ‘Neil’ already has staff to take care of him. Marine biologists from the Marine Conservation Program have fitted him with a tracker to ensure he stays safe during his journeys ashore. The location has not been revealed to the public.
The Ministry of the Environment recommends keeping a distance of 20 meters from “Neil” – even though he looks cute, he is still a wild animal. “It is important that the elephant seal is left alone, unaccustomed to humans, and maintains its wild behavior in the long term for its health and survival,” the organization said.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
