Giant Elephant Seal Neil Returns to Tasmania, Growing Dangerously Large

Neil the Seal, a 1,000-kilogram elephant seal who regularly terrorizes the Australian city of Hobart, is back. The 5.5-year-old returns twice a year to Tasmania to molt and hibernate, and each time he leaves a trail of destruction in his wake. Fences are knocked over, traffic is blocked, and Neil has even attacked a car before.

Authorities again warn residents to keep their distance, as Neil grows older and closer to full maturity at age eight. With that comes increasing territorial aggression and danger to the public. He could easily double his current weight.

But Neil faces a new threat: the H5N1 bird flu strain has been detected in Western and South Australia. The virus has already killed over 13,000 seal pups on remote Heard and McDonald Islands. Experts predict it is only a matter of time before it reaches Tasmania. The small consolation for Neil is that since he does not live in a colony, his risk is slightly lower.

Meanwhile, with no other seals to play with, Hobart's trash bins and fences will keep bearing the brunt of his adolescent energy.