Watch the Sassiest Seal Refuse To Leave This Neighborhood
Continue reading for our analysis...
When we think of animals that inhabit local areas, it’s easy for us to think about common animals. Animals such as dogs, cats, raccoons, deer, and maybe even a bear or two. However, a seal that wants to stay and refuses to leave? Well, that’s just not quite a common everyday occurrence. Don’t miss the video above where we see this seal refusing to leave!
Seal Sighted on Land That Won’t Leave
The short news video clip posted at the top of this blog post takes us to Tasmania. This is where we see a famous seal that won’t leave a town in Tasmania. This video was picked up by USA Today. They are a news site that produces content based on entertainment, sports, and breaking news. And once we watch the video above, it’s not difficult to see why this video is so popular!
Sassy Seal in Tasmania Standing Up to Local Police
As the video starts out we see an epic standoff happening. A massive elephant seal and a local police officer stand face to face at the edge of the water. This is not the first time this seal has been spotted in this neighborhood in Tasmania. In fact, he is so frequent, that the locals bequeathed him the name “Neil.”
According to the Tasmanian Government, there are approximately 12 elephant seals that are seen each year. “A male seal born in Salem Bay in 2020 [named “Neil”] was tagged on each tail flipper just prior to weaning and has been sighted at a number of locations in southern Tasmania since then. “
Neil is a bit stubborn and is known to block local traffic. At one point in this short newscast, we even see an image of Neil in the middle of the road. Surrounding him are small traffic cones around him to warn oncoming drivers of his presence. This elephant seal is not interested in leaving. Despite the officers warning for him to leave, Neil stands up to him to say “no.”
What is the Largest Species of Seal?
33 species of seal can be found worldwide. Of these species, seals start off at about 2,000 pounds at maturity. The Smithsonian Ocean Organization labels the southern elephant seal as the biggest in the world. “The largest of all seal species, the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) is found in chilly Antarctic and Subantarctic waters.”
The southern elephant seal can weigh anywhere from 1,500-3,000 kilograms (3,307-6,614 pounds). And the largest has been found weighing up to 3,700 kilograms (8,157 pounds). It’s no wonder that the local police seen in the video above was keeping his distance as best he could!