Australian officials ask fans to respect the privacy of Neil, a trouble-making seal

In this photo provided by Sam Volker Photography, Neil the Seal, a 1,000 kg (2,200 pound) elephant seal, plays with a traffic cone in Tasmania, Australia, on June 27, 2026.

The 5-year-old seal has a social media following twice the size of Tasmania’s population, and his antics include bending traffic bollards and blocking roads.

(Image credit: Sam Volker Photography)