A colossal elephant seal, weighing as much as a small car, has become an unlikely social media sensation and a source of both delight and destruction along Tasmania’s southern coast. Neil, a 1,000 kg, five-year-old mammal, has returned to his birthplace for his biannual visit, leaving a trail of bent traffic bollards, smashed fences, and captivated onlookers in his wake.
After months of feeding at sea, Neil’s return to beachside towns has seen him haul himself onto land, often bringing local traffic to a standstill as he reposes in the middle of roads.
