Neil the one-tonne elephant seal causing traffic jams in rural Tasmania has returned to sea – for now

Premier Jeremy Rockliff says the traffic cones and street signs of Tasmania can breathe a small sigh of relief'

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

A one-tonne southern elephant seal named Neil, whose beachside antics have attracted millions of views on social media, appears to have returned to sea.

The five-year-old has spent several weeks at his usual twice-yearly haul-out spot in southern Tasmania.