Neil the one-tonne elephant seal causing traffic jams in rural Tasmania has returned to sea – for now

Neil, the one-tonne southern elephant seal, has finally returned to the sea after causing quite a stir in rural Tasmania. His beachside antics, including some rather unusual interactions with local traffic cones and signs, attracted millions of views on social media. Premier Jeremy Rockliff humorously noted that Tasmanians can now relax a bit, relieved Neil is gone. This return suggests Neil may be heading back to his usual feeding grounds, but his story has highlighted the playful nature of wildlife and their sometimes unexpected impact on human activities.