A giant seal recently caused a stir in the town of Dunalley, Australia, as it frolicked around and rolled over to sleep on the road.
The seal, named Niel, first came ashore in July 2022 when he was just 20 months old. At that time, an Instagram account dedicated to sharing moments of Niel playing on the beach had garnered 128,000 followers.
Seal Niel during a beach visit in mid-December 2023. (Photo: CBS News).
However, it wasn’t until the nearly 600 kg seal returned to land in December 2023 that Niel truly became famous. The account documenting Niel’s antics around Dunalley attracted over 867,000 followers and 14 million likes.
In recent days, Niel has continued to come ashore, engaging in a series of activities that have captivated local residents, such as lying down in front of a real estate office and causing chaos outside a fish and chips shop.
Additionally, recent photos and videos have shown this seal enjoying playtime with traffic cones on the road, distorting them and causing disruptions to traffic.
Previously, in November 2023, Niel was found sleeping right in front of a woman’s car, blocking her path as she prepared to leave for work.
Despite his massive size and many playful antics, Niel is well-known as a jovial creature beloved by the local community. Many social media users have expressed delight at Niel’s presence; however, this has also raised concerns about safety and other potential issues. After all, Niel remains a wild animal of considerable size.
As Niel’s fame grows, more people are visiting the area in hopes of catching a glimpse of the giant seal at play.
Mary-Anne Lea, a professor at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania, stated: “We need to remember that these are wild animals. It’s fine if they are cute and interact safely with people. But then they grow larger, and their natural instinctive behaviors start to emerge, leading them to act in ways you wouldn’t want.”
Even at nearly 600 kg, Niel is still capable of moving quickly if disturbed.
Professor Mary-Anne Lea referenced the story of the famous walrus Freya in Norway, which attracted the attention of many in 2022. However, Freya was later euthanized as Norwegian authorities declared her a threat to human safety. The fate of this walrus, which had never harmed anyone, sparked significant controversy at the time.
In August 2023, a baby seal died from shock after being picked up by a woman, despite warnings against such actions.
The owner of the Instagram account posting about Niel was also forced to stop updating Niel’s whereabouts after discussions with marine biologists. At the same time, the account issued reminders for people to respect Niel—a wild animal with a unique personality. This post aimed to protect both human safety and Niel himself.
