Neil, a 600 kg Southern elephant seal, is a true sensation in Tasmania. Born in Salem Bay in 2020 and tagged by the Marine Conservation Program, Neil has quickly become a local celebrity for his love of traffic cones.
This 3-year-old seal has a quirky habit of playing with cones—rubbing his head on them, lying on them, and swapping them out when one gets damaged.
It’s not every day you see a massive elephant seal with a traffic cone obsession, but for Neil, it’s a daily delight.
@neiltheseal316 Neil the Seal playing in the local suburbs 🦭 #neiltheseal #practising @Max Curtis ♬ Neil the Seal short OG original theme song – Neil the Seal 🦭
Neil’s Unlikely Obsession with Traffic Cones
Neil’s antics are hard to miss. He flops across roads, making his way to wherever he can find his beloved cones. His favorite activity? Cuddling up with a cone and rolling it around like a toy.
Whether he’s lounging on a lawn or taking a break on the side of a road, Neil always seems to have a cone nearby.
He treats these cones like comfort objects, and locals can’t help but be amused by the sight of such a large creature tenderly engaging with something so small.
What makes Neil stand out even more is how he interacts with these cones. He doesn’t just nudge them; he rubs his massive head on them, as if enjoying every second of the contact.
If a cone happens to get crushed under his weight, Neil will simply move on to the next one.
This playful behavior has turned him into a social media star, with videos of his cone cuddling and road-crossing adventures going viral across TikTok and Instagram.
@neiltheseal316 Bringing Neil the Seal his toys on his epic season 2 return 🦭 “for those who are new Neil has returned back to the Ocean & is due to return for his catastrophic molt in late Nov-Dec” #findingneiltheseal #neiltheseal @Jaycee ♬ original sound – Neil the Seal 🦭
Neil’s Rise to Internet Fame
Neil’s antics have captured the hearts of many, both locally and internationally. Videos of him flopping across roads and casually lounging on lawns have made him an internet sensation, earning him over 47.1 million views on TikTok under the hashtag #neiltheseal.
His Instagram and TikTok accounts are filled with clips of his everyday life, where he’s either cuddling up to cones or casually blocking roads.
Local residents are used to Neil’s visits by now, and many have taken to recording his escapades.
While some are concerned about safety—both for Neil and for the people around him—most are entertained by his cone-obsessed routine. International news outlets have picked up on the story, further boosting Neil’s popularity.
Neil’s rise to fame is as heartwarming as it is amusing. There’s something undeniably funny about a massive elephant seal acting like a playful puppy with his favorite toys.
His gentle nature and oddball behavior have made him an internet darling, and his story continues to spread far beyond Tasmania.
@neiltheseal316 Welcome back Neil 🦭 giving him a few traffic cones to play with for the night. #neilthesealsreturn24 ♬ original sound – Neil the Seal 🦭
A Future Full of Cones for Neil
As Neil continues to grow, so does his fame. At only 3 years old, he’s already made a name for himself, and locals can’t wait to see what he’ll do next.
Will he stick to his beloved traffic cones, or will Neil find new objects of affection in the future? One thing’s for sure—Neil isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Neil’s love for traffic cones is a quirky reminder of how unique animals can be.
His joyful, carefree approach to life is something many people find endearing, and it’s clear that Neil has become more than just a local celebrity—he’s an international star.
@neiltheseal316 Neil… “What are you doing on the road? Why you causing mayhem again” 🦭🛣️🦭#neiltheseal #mayhem #highwaypatrol @Jaycee ♬ Nei Neil what u doin – Neil the Seal 🦭