Everyone wants to call in sick from work every now and then and what a more perfect opportunity than having a seal block your car. A southern Tasmanian woman woke up one morning with a 1,300-pound seal in her front yard.
The tagged southern elephant seal, who goes by the name Neil to locals, has gotten quite the following online since his first appearance. He’s best known for popping up at beaches around Hobart and laying down on roads to sunbathe. He’s even been caught playing with traffic cones that were put in place to protect him.
Amber Harris never expected to wake up one morning with the large seal in her yard. “He’s outside having a little nap,” she said. “He has moved around. He’s been on my front deck, he’s had his little head — well, big head — up on my hammock and he’s now down blocking my car.”
Harris had to call into work to let her boss know she was going to be late because of the seal. “There’s not a lot you can do with a 600kg seal at your car,” she said. “[Work] got all the photos so they knew it was legitimate. It’s given everyone in the office a bit of a laugh.”
Fortunately, after a few hours of hanging out in Harris’ yard, Neil was seen making his way back to the beach. “I’m across the road from the beach. So he’s made his way all the way up, up a dirt road and across,” Harris said. “I have no idea why he’s chosen my front yard but he’s welcome to stay as long as he wants.”
Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-14/neil-the-seal-stops-tasmanian-woman-getting-to-work/103102090