<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, workers from Tasmania\u2019s Marine Conservation Program (MCP), under the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, were called in after Neil refused to budge from the middle of a nearby street.<\/p>\n
Two workers, one armed with a board and another with a stick, were seen whacking and shoving Neil as the animal reared up and lashed around.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll they needed to do is get a big traffic cone to lure him off the road \u2026 but, no, they want to whack him,\u201d influencer Jason Howlett, who runs a popular Neil the Seal TikTok page, says in the footage<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t agree with it. They\u2019re trying to get him back on the beach and then they\u2019re going to electric fence the track to keep Neil on the beach. I would have used the traffic cone to lure him without hitting him.\u201d<\/p>\n Neil the Seal is known to have a particular fascination<\/a> with orange traffic cones.<\/p>\n The battle continued for around two minutes before Neil finally conceded defeat and shuffled towards the pavement, to cheers from the crowd.<\/p>\n \u201cThere he goes,\u201d Howlett says. \u201cWell done, boys!\u201d<\/p>\n Sharing the clip on TikTok, Howlett asked followers their thoughts on Neil\u2019s \u201croadside removal\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWatching the rangers use boards and sticks and guiding tools to shift him can look pretty jarring if you don\u2019t know the protocol behind it,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a stark reminder of how incredibly difficult it is to manage a massive wild animal who treats the local public roads like his personal mattress. <\/p>\n \u201cWhat are your thoughts on how the state handles him? Is it time for better strategies to keep him away from high-traffic infrastructure entirely, or do you think these temporary roadside escorts are the only viable option we\u2019ve got? Let\u2019s keep the discussion respectful in the comments.\u201d<\/p>\n The feedback from viewers was overwhelmingly negative.<\/p>\n \u201cPoor Neil he is so upset. Stop being mean to Neil!\u201d one wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not doing a very good job,\u201d another said.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t even watch this,\u201d a third wrote.<\/p>\n Neil fans said he was being \u201cantagonised\u201d and \u201charassed\u201d, with one calling the footage \u201cdisgusting\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cYou should never hit an animal. Ever,\u201d one wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cSuch an aggressive response to this situation,\u201d a second agreed.<\/p>\n \u201cMarine conservation and they have no f**king idea. Leave him the f**k alone,\u201d another wrote.<\/p>\n One argued that MCP \u201cshould know Neil by now and how to move him\u201d. \u201cIt\u2019s not their first rodeo,\u201d she said. \u201cI definitely don\u2019t agree with the electric fence. He\u2019s going to wind up getting hurt. Or they will when he gets aggressive. I don\u2019t see that ending well at all.\u201d<\/p>\n Another agreed that \u201cthis is just going to make him have aggression issues towards humans and make him dangerous\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is the opposite of the way that this should be handled,\u201d she said. \u201cKindness and care for the animal, not fear and abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment said it was \u201cusing safe, approved methods to relocate Neil the Seal, and these techniques do not harm the animal\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are asking the community for their understanding and support while trained wildlife staff work to keep both Neil and the public safe,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n \u201cNRE Tas staff are on site in southern Tasmania relocating Neil from a suburban road, where his presence poses a risk to both the animal and the community. It is not possible to leave him in place, as this puts him at risk of being hit by a vehicle and creates a safety hazard for drivers and pedestrians.<\/p>\n \u201cNeil is now estimated to weigh around 1000kg, and even small movements from a large wild animal can cause serious injury. As a subadult, his behaviour has changed, and techniques used during previous visits have been updated to ensure everyone\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n \u201cThe use of padded poles, boards and noise to encourage large wildlife to move is a standard, internationally recognised approach used by trained wildlife experts. These methods are designed to safely guide the animal without causing harm.<\/p>\n \u201cNeil is a southern elephant seal, an endangered species, and we all have a role to support wildlife experts in protecting his wellbeing. Male southern elephant seals naturally engage in play fighting, and without a colony in Tasmania, Neil can be drawn to busy areas in search of interaction. It is important that people do not engage with him, as this can reinforce unsafe behaviour.<\/p>\n \u201cThe public is reminded to stay at least 20 metres away from Neil, and to keep dogs on a lead at least 50 metres away.<\/p>\n \u201cTo report a sighting or concerns about behaviour around the seal, call the marine mammal hotline on 0427 WHALES (0427 942 537).\u201d<\/p>\n