SAN FRANCISCO — A colossal sea lion dubbed Chonkers has captured the attention of both visitors and San Francisco locals who are making special trips to Pier 39 hoping to catch sight of the enormous marine mammal.
Thursday morning brought photographers and onlookers as the giant Steller sea lion rested on the dock, dwarfing the many smaller California sea lions that regularly inhabit the waterfront area.
“He’s like a Volkswagen! He’s so huge!” exclaimed Oluwaseyi Akinbobola, a Los Angeles tourist who made a quick detour to the pier with some spare time. “I have heard everywhere about this big giant sea lion, and I like to look at things, so just thought I’d check it out.”
According to Laura Gill, public programs manager at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, Chonkers probably traveled south from Washington or Oregon waters and tips the scales at an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 pounds. The massive Steller sea lion represents a rare visitor to the pier, which offers protection from both predators and rough seas while serving up abundant seafood.
“There’s plenty of food in San Francisco Bay for them, so the fish, the rockfish, the anchovies, the herring, there’s a lot of easy prey for them,” she said.
San Francisco local Danielle Ovadia noted how the enormous sea lion, initially observed at the pier last month, has united the neighborhood. “He’s so precious, and he’s quite literally humongous,” she said.
While sea lions have become a trademark feature of the busy tourist pier, their presence only began following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, marina records show. A single male pioneer was soon accompanied by many others, and the marine mammal colony had expanded to over 300 by February 1990.
Gill explained that Chonkers typically appears at the docks during early morning hours but becomes more elusive as the day progresses. She finds it charming to observe his attempts to cuddle with the resident sea lions for warmth and wonders whether additional Steller sea lions might follow his lead.
“He’s trying to fit in, but he sticks out like a sore thumb,” she said.
