'Mr Lou-Seal': Fur seal wandering in northern Tasmanian suburb tranquillised
A giant fur seal that took up residence in a Tasmanian yard after mounting and causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to a car has been tranquillised.
Dubbed "Mr Lou-Seal" by Tasmania Police, officers sealed off the area on Boxing Day and called in animal experts from Hobart to help evict the animal.
It was tranquillised before 11am and Parks and Wildlife officers will then move Lou-Seal, Tasmania Police say.
The large seal is on the loose in Launceston. Source: Tasmania Police
It mounted a Toyota Camry in a driveway. Source: Tasmania Police
Police earlier warned the public not to approach the seal that had been wandering in the suburb of Newstead in order to avoid agitating the marine mammal.
"We're sealious... Parks & Wildlife Service advise that the recovery and relocation of the seal from Penquite Road, Newstead, may take most of this morning," state police said on Facebook.
"Members of the public are asked to remain at a safe distance to avoid unnecessarily agitating the animal and risk harm to themselves or the animal."
The large seal left its mark on Newstead, mounting a Toyota Camry that is registered in Victoria, as it was parked in a driveway.
The sedan's windscreen was smashed and a large dent left in its roof.
The mammal left its mark on the Camry. Source: Tasmania Police
Some would call it a seal of disapproval. Source: Tasmania Police
"Is that a sea lion? Because I see it lion on my car," one person quipped on Facebook.
On Twitter, some of speculated whether a typo had caused some confusion on the Apple Isle about Boxing Day "sales" and Boxing Day "seals".
