Clarence City Council has put a dollar figure on what it cost to host Australia's most famous elephant seal, revealing that Neil the Seal's 34-night Tasmanian stopover generated an estimated bill of $31,540.53 — before promptly announcing the account had been settled in full.

The one-tonne southern elephant seal spent 15 nights at Seven Mile Beach and a further 19 at Goats Beach during his latest visit to the Clarence area near Hobart, delighting the public while blocking traffic, flattening signs and drawing enormous crowds.

A mock invoice, a cheeky Facebook post and a $0 balance

In a touch of humour that itself went viral, the council issued a satirical tax invoice addressed directly to "Neil the Seal". The document credited him with "tourism ambassador services, national media exposure, community joy, countless social media interactions, thousands of photos, and exceptional cuteness" — and declared the balance owing as $0, the debt cleared through "tourism promotion, community smiles and one unforgettable visit".

The council accompanied the invoice with a tongue-in-cheek Facebook post asking the public whether anyone had Neil's email address so they could inform him his bill had been taken care of.

Despite the lighthearted tone, the figures behind the tally were very real. Council staff logged 275.5 hours managing crowds and traffic during Neil's stay — the single largest contributor to the overall cost. By contrast, the physical damage Neil left in his wake was relatively minor: one flattened street sign, ten knocked-over bollards and one crushed section of fencing, with replacement materials estimated at just $1,297.70.

Mayor warns the fun could have turned dangerous

Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley welcomed the good humour but cautioned that the outcome could easily have been far worse. "Neil is a wild animal and the overexposure and constant public attention he received could have led to a more dramatic outcome," the mayor said.

"Wherever he decides to come ashore next, I hope he is given the space and time he needs."

Throughout the visit, authorities repeatedly urged members of the public to keep a distance of at least 20 metres from the seal, warning that a startled animal of Neil's size — approximately 1,000 kilograms — was capable of causing serious injury. The warnings were not always heeded, with large crowds gathering daily to observe his antics, which included napping across roads and investigating parked vehicles. His memorable visit to a Tasmanian petrol station became one of the more widely shared moments of his stay.

Who is Neil the Seal?

Neil is a southern elephant seal born on the Tasman Peninsula in 2020. His mother is believed to have become separated from the Macquarie Island elephant seal colony, ultimately giving birth to Neil in Tasmanian waters rather than the colony's usual range.

Now a juvenile, Neil has developed a habit of making annual visits to suburban Tasmania — a pattern wildlife experts say is entirely consistent with the behaviour of a young male elephant seal. At this stage of his life, he would ordinarily be roughhousing with other juvenile males, practising the dominant behaviours he will eventually need when competing for breeding grounds as an adult. He is not expected to begin breeding for at least another five years.

His repeated appearances in residential and coastal areas around Hobart have earned him a devoted following both locally and internationally, turning him into an unlikely celebrity whose visits generate significant media attention and social media activity each time he comes ashore.

Neil's most recent Tasmanian adventure came to a close earlier this month when he returned to the ocean. His departure after weeks of coastal chaos was watched closely by fans who had followed his every move during his stay — and who are no doubt already wondering where the one-tonne teen will turn up next.