The huge bill viral TikTok star Neil the Seal racked up after he decided to cause havoc in a costal Tasmanian town

Neil the Seal caused $1,300 in damagesA council drew up his bill, including labourREAD MORE: Neil the Seal heads back out to sea See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 03:50 EDT, 30 July 2026 | Updated: 03:57 EDT, 30 July 2026 Neil the Seal has captured hearts and global attention for his visits to Tasmania, and racked up a bill of more than $31,000 for his most-recent stay.The five-year-old elephant seal hauls out twice each year to rest and moult in the island state's southeast where he was born.His antics, including crushing bollards, fences and lounging on quiet beachside streets, have drawn millions of views on social media.Wildlife authorities were forced in June to issue a blunt public statement, urging people to keep their distance or risk 'loving Neil to death'.His 15-day stay at Seven Mile Beach cost the local Clarence City Council a total of $31,540.53 - the majority relating to staffing and labour.There is also a repair bill for one flattened street sign, 10 knocked over bollards and one crushed fence, costing council $1,297.70 in materials.Staff, including a 24-hour security presence, spent 275.5 hours managing traffic and crowds and repairing damage.Council mayor Brendan Blomeley said the overall bill was relatively small. Neil the Seal (above) racked up a bill of more than $31,000 during his latest bi-annual visit in Tasmania Clarence City Council drew up an invoice (above) for Neil totalling $31,540.53 - the majority relating to staffing and labour'Neil is a wild animal and the over exposure and constant public attention he received could have led to a more dramatic outcome,' Mr Blomeley said.'Wherever he decides to come ashore next, I hope he is given the space and time he needs.'Right to information documents obtained by the ABC show Tasmania's natural resources and environment department has spent more than $45,000 managing Neil's four haul-outs in 2025 and 2026.Neil's June haul-out cost the department $4,794 but it was still calculating the full price tag.Neil, who currently weighs one tonne, safely returned to sea in early July and is expected to come back to Tasmania later in the year once he's done feeding in the Southern Ocean.He was rescued by wildlife authorities after being born on a beach in southern Tasmania and is pre-programmed to return to the area.Experts have said his 'jousting' with posts and other objects is natural behaviour and something seals of his age usually do with each other.There were once southern elephant seals in Tasmania, but they were wiped out by hunting in the early 1800s. Neil (above), who currently weighs one tonne, was rescued by wildlife authorities after being born on a beach in southern Tasmania and now returns twice a yearThe species is currently listed as vulnerable in Australia.'Neil is potentially one of the first southern elephant seal pups to be born back in Tasmania,' department wildlife expert Kris Carlyon has said.'Regardless of the resource burden and the challenges that Neil throws, we're pleased to see him.'