A massive Steller sea lion named Chonkers has transformed a section of San Francisco’s iconic Pier 39 into an impromptu viewing gallery, as tourists and locals flock to see the unusually large pinniped that has taken up residence alongside hundreds of smaller California sea lions. The animal, first spotted at the pier last month, is estimated to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds (680 and 907 kilograms), according to Laura Gill, public programs manager at The Marine Mammal Center in nearby Sausalito.
On Thursday morning, visitors crowded the pier with cameras as Chonkers flopped onto the dock, surrounded by dozens of the bay’s familiar sea lions. “He’s like a Volkswagen! He’s so huge!” said Oluwaseyi Akinbobola, a visitor from Los Angeles who made a detour for a hopeful glance. “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.”
Gill said the sea lion — one of only a handful of Steller sea lions ever recorded at the pier — likely traveled from waters off the coast of Washington or Oregon. Pier 39’s protected docks, which shield resident sea lions from predators and heavy waves, also provide a reliable larder. “There’s plenty of food in San Francisco Bay for them,” she said. “The fish, the rockfish, the anchovies, the herring — there’s a lot of easy prey.”
For San Francisco resident Danielle Ovadia, the giant visitor has done more than serve as a photo opportunity. “He’s so precious, and he’s quite literally humongous,” she said, adding that the animal has brought the community together in an otherwise routine spring. Other spectators described Chonkers as a gentle giant who sticks out even as he tries to blend in with the resident sea lions. “He’s trying to fit in, but he sticks out like a sore thumb,” Gill said.
Sea lions have been synonymous with Pier 39 since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, when a single male first appeared at the marina. By February 1990, the pinniped population had grown to more than 300, and the colony has remained a fixture of Fisherman’s Wharf ever since. Chonkers, however, is a visitor of a different order — a massive Steller sea lion that will test whether the pier’s unique conditions might attract more of his kind. Gill said it has been endearing to watch him “try to snuggle with the regular sea lions for warmth,” and she expects marine scientists will keep a close eye on whether other Steller sea lions follow his waddle.