Wildlife authorities in Tasmania have released new guidelines regarding the safe distance the public must keep from a 1,000kg southern elephant seal named Neil.

塔斯馬尼亞的野生動物部門發布了新指南，規定大眾與一隻名為 Neil、重量達 1,000 公斤的南象海豹之間必須保持安全距離。

Neil is considered unusual because he was born in Tasmania in October 2020, whereas this species usually lives on the subantarctic Macquarie and Heard islands. Dr. Clive McMahon suggests that the seal returned to the area because it is linked to the place where it was born. Furthermore, the seal's presence has caused damage to local infrastructure, such as fences and bollards, and has blocked road traffic; however, experts explain that these actions are simply play-fighting behavior.

Neil 被認為相當罕見，因為牠於 2020 年 10 月在塔斯馬尼亞出生，而這個物種通常生活在亞南極的麥夸里島和赫德島。Clive McMahon 博士認為，這隻海豹回到該地區是因為牠與出生地有聯繫。此外，這隻海豹的出現造成了當地基礎設施的損壞，例如圍欄和路樁，並阻塞了道路交通；然而，專家解釋這些行為僅僅是嬉戲打鬥的表現。

Local officials are concerned about the balance between public curiosity and animal safety. Dr. Kris Carlyon from the Department of Natural Resources emphasized that while the seal's visibility helps people learn about the species, it also encourages dangerous behavior, such as people trying to take photos too closely. Additionally, Dr. Jane Younger from the University of Tasmania warned that the seal's massive size means it could cause fatal injuries, even if it does not intend to. Consequently, officials stated that if the public continues to ignore safety rules, they may have to relocate the animal. They cited a 2022 case in Norway, where a walrus had to be put down due to constant human interference, as a warning of what could happen.

當地官員擔心大眾的好奇心與動物安全之間的平衡。自然資源部的 Kris Carlyon 博士強調，雖然海豹的高能見度有助於人們了解該物種，但也會鼓勵危險行為，例如有人試圖近距離拍照。此外，塔斯馬尼亞大學的 Jane Younger 博士警告，海豹巨大的體型意味著牠可能會造成致命傷，即使牠並非有意。因此，官員表示，如果大眾繼續無視安全規則，他們可能不得不將這隻動物遷移。他們引用了 2022 年挪威的一個案例作為警告，當時有一隻海象因人類持續干擾而不得不被撲殺。

To ensure the safety of both people and the animal, authorities require a minimum distance of 20 meters for humans and 50 meters for dogs.

為確保人類與動物雙方的安全，當局要求人類必須保持至少 20 公尺的距離，而狗則需保持 50 公尺。