How Australia's world-famous one-tonne 'Neil the Seal' could be put to death because gawping selfie-seekers refuse to leave the viral sensation alone: 'Are you serious?'

Published: 03:06, 8 July 2026 | Updated: 03:29, 8 July 2026 A beloved elephant seal who has made worldwide headlines could be killed if he is deemed a risk to the public, with more than 62,000 Australians signing a petition demanding 'Neil the Seal' be spared.  Neil, born at Salem Bay on the Tasman Peninsula in October 2020, has become a viral sensation, visiting Tasmania 12 times, where he has been met with crowds looking for the perfect picture with a local icon.  Neil is almost six years old but is already three metres long and weighs 1,000kg. He is set to balloon even further when he reaches the age of 12, possibly stretching as long as 4.5metres and weighing 4,000kg. But as he ages, experts predict he will also become more territorial. Concerns have been raised that his size and weight could make him a danger to the public if people do not keep their distance. Indeed, it is common for parents and children to try and get close to him for photos, and others have attempted to feed him.  Dr Kris Carlyon, section head for wildlife health at Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE TAS), has warned that a walrus of a similar celebrity standing, named Freya, was euthanised in Norway in 2023 due to the safety risk she posed.  That has sparked a flurry of concern that the same fate could await Neil, with horrified locals launching a petition calling for a 'non-lethal management plan'.   'Concerns have mounted over the safety and well-being of Neil, highlighting the urgent need for a non-lethal management framework,' the desperate plea to authorities reads.  'We call upon Tasmanian authorities to implement such a plan that focuses on Neil’s protection and ensures his co-existence within human habitats.  More than 60,000 Aussies have signed a petition demanding a beloved seal be spared euthanasia amid warnings it could be killed if it is deemed a risk to the public 'Specifically, we urge the creation of restricted access zones around Neil’s known habitats, which would make it illegal for tourists and non-residents to intrude upon Neil's space.' The petition was addressed to Tasmanian Environment Minister Guy Barnett and Tasmanian Parks Minister Nick Duigan. Many locals are outraged at the prospect of Neil being euthanised.  'Why not employ someone to watch over him instead of killing him? We are in his environment not the other way around,' one signatory said.  'Are you serious? This beautiful animal is giving everyone so much joy across the globe, this must be a joke,' a second said.  'Euthanasia is not the answer. He isn't doing anything wrong, he's simply behaving the way nature intended,' another added.     Dr Carlyon said killing the 1,000kg southern elephant seal was 'a last resort' if human interaction went too far.  '[Euthanasia] has to be on our radar as an option to maintain public safety,' he said.  Neil the Seal, born at Salem Bay on the Tasman Peninsula in October 2020, has returned to Tasmania 12 times and is always met with crowds looking for the perfect picture  Concerns have been raised that his size and weight could make him a danger to safety if members of the public do not keep their distance, as parents with babies try to get close to him for a photo, and others attempt to feed him 'Right now, the attention Neil gets helps with awareness of our threatened species and helps with his protection in some ways, but it also encourages perhaps risky human behaviour, like people trying to get selfies with Neil or trying to get that little bit closer for a good photo. 'It risks behavioural changes and getting him more and more used to people, exacerbating the situation.' While leaving Neil alone was the department's preferred approach, Dr Carlyon said intervention was needed if things got out of hand. 'We've seen it elsewhere in the world where managing public interactions becomes unmanageable and the animal ends up paying the price,' he said. 'That's where we don't want to get to, which is why we're pushing the message about keeping away. 'If unmanaged, that attention can result in injury both to Neil and to the public and it can push him into unnatural habitats and ultimately threaten his survival as a wild animal.' To prevent the need for euthanasia, Dr Carlyon said it was important for people to give Neil space, especially if he showed signs of agitation.   'We're asking the public to stay at least 20 metres away, not touch, feed or approach him, keep dogs on a leash at least 50 metres away and under control, avoid blocking his access to the water and be mindful of his behaviours,' he said.  Dr Kris Carlyon, section head for wildlife health at Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE TAS), warned that a walrus, named Freya, was euthanised in Norway in 2023 due to her public safety risk  'Things to watch for include raising his head, gaping at people, watching people and generally keeping an eye on them.  'He needs to sleep and any of those subtle signs suggest he's not quite comfortable and people need to back off a little bit.' Dr Carlyon said relocating the seal was also an option, but carried significant risks as well.  'We do have the option of relocating Neil, but it's an incredibly risky procedure for him and increasingly risky the bigger he gets.  'It's also risky for staff, so we don't hit that button until we absolutely have to.'