A 1,000kg mammal is wreaking havoc in Tasmania – and Neil the seal is loved for it

The elephant seal has been crushing fences, blocking traffic and bashing into parked cars, in what experts say is play-fighting behaviour

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Bollards, traffic cones, fences and LandCruisers stand little chance against a 1-tonne giant known as Neil the seal, now a local legend in southern Tasmania.

Neil – a five-year-old elephant seal – has once again taken up residence in Tasmanian towns.

He’s bypassing barricades, crushing fences, lying on roads and bashing into at least one parked car.