Authorities are urging public caution amid growing safety concerns for Neil, the 1000kg southern elephant seal who has returned to southern Tasmania and is attracting significant crowds. The five-and-a-half-year-old seal, a social media sensation, is currently in the Clarence City Council area for his annual moult.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) Tasmania, which is managing the seal’s welfare, has warned of the risks posed by his increasing fame. Dr Kris Carlyon from the NRE told media there was a real risk of the public “loving Neil to death,” citing instances of people getting dangerously close. The Guardian reported that Dr Carlyon noted some people have brought “their small babies up close to him” for photos.

Wildlife officials have stressed that while Neil may seem placid, he is a large and potentially dangerous wild animal. The NRE advises the public to stay at least 20 metres away from the seal, and to keep dogs on a lead and at least 50 metres away.

Neil’s interactions with the suburban environment, which have included blocking roads, knocking over bollards, and damaging fences, have been widely documented. Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley confirmed Neil has caused damage to public property, with a full assessment to be conducted once the seal returns to the water, as reported by Pulse Tasmania. The City of Clarence is assisting the NRE with traffic management to ensure public safety.

The situation has prompted calls for a more formal management strategy. Pulse Tasmania reported that Clarence City Council Deputy Mayor Allison Ritchie and a council candidate have separately pushed for a coordinated “Neil the seal action plan” to prepare for his future visits.

However, Premier Jeremy Rockliff told media that the government was not considering new legislation to protect the seal, instead calling for the public to use “common sense”. He reiterated the advice for people to maintain a significant distance and keep dogs leashed.

Dr Kris Carlyon warned that if risky public behaviour creates an unmanageable safety concern, euthanasia can be a last resort for large, dangerous animals, though this is an outcome no one wants.

Sightings of Neil or concerns about public behaviour can be reported to the NRE’s Marine Mammal Hotline. The original ABC News story that prompted this report can be found on their website.