Neil the Seal's Visits Cost a Lot of Money

By Jano Gibson

Topic: Animals

Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 5:29 am

In short:

Neil the elephant seal is famous for his funny actions in public.

The government of Tasmania says it costs a lot of money to keep Neil and the public safe when he visits twice a year.

What's next?

The Clarence City Council spent over $30,000 on traffic control and repairs during Neil's recent visit to Seven Mile Beach.

Neil the elephant seal makes people happy, and many fans come to see him in Tasmania and around the world.

But keeping Neil safe costs money.

The government shared how much it spent on Neil's visits over the past two years.

In total, the government spent $45,674 on Neil's four visits, including money for security.

However, this amount does not include all the costs from his last visit because some bills have not been paid yet.

Neil the seal during his last visit to Seven Mile Beach in July.

The government said it used at least 523 staff hours during Neil's four visits.

This number does not include help from the police or councils.

The full cost of keeping Neil safe is hard to calculate, but it is tens of thousands of dollars each time he visits.

Many people came to see Neil every day, and they had to stay far away from him.

The government put up signs and took other safety measures to protect people and Neil.

People were told to keep their dogs away from Neil.

Neil damaged a sign, 10 bollards, and part of a fence.

Neil was born in 2020 and comes back to Tasmania to rest and shed his skin.

Neil's visits are a challenge because many people come to see him, and it is hard to keep them safe.

Neil with his mother in 2020.

Many people, including tourists, came to see Neil at Seven Mile Beach near Hobart.

The council spent $31,540 on traffic control, crowd management, and repairs over 15 nights.

Most of the council's costs were for staff and overtime.

The mayor said Neil's damage was not too expensive.

Neil scratched public property, which means some things need to be replaced, costing around $1,297.70.

People were told to stay at least 20 meters away from Neil.

The mayor said it is good that Neil did not cause more damage, considering all the attention he got.

The government used cars to block Neil from going onto the road.

Neil found ways to get back to his favorite spots on land.

Even electric fences could not stop Neil.

Neil will come back bigger and less predictable than before.

The government takes many steps to manage Neil's visits, including using wildlife experts and security.

The government also tells people how to behave around Neil and promotes safe viewing.

As Neil grows, it will cost more to keep him and people safe.

Neil will grow much bigger, as shown in a picture comparing his size now to when he will be fully grown.

Neil will come back to Tasmania later this year after feeding in the ocean.

Neil will be bigger each time he comes back, and adult elephant seals can weigh around 3,000 kilograms.

Neil is almost six years old and acts like a teenager, according to experts.

The government says Neil's size and behavior as an adult will be challenging.

The government needs to protect Neil from harm and also keep people safe.

Elephant seals are protected by law because they are endangered.

Neil before he went back to the sea in July.

More news from Tasmania

Topic: Food and Drink

Topic: Composting

Topic: Awards and Prizes

Neil the seal at Seven Mile Beach.

See more ABC news

Promotion

Pagsasanay sa pakikinig

Pagsasanay sa pakikinig