Oversized Steller Sea Lion Draws Crowds to San Francisco Pier
Oversized Steller sea lion Chonkers draws crowds to San Francisco's Pier 39.
Event / Environment
Steller Sea Lion Pier 39
A Steller sea lion named Chonkers, significantly larger than typical California sea lions, has drawn crowds of visitors to San Francisco's Pier 39. The incident provides biological context on the species and reflects the broader history of sea lion presence at the pier following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
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2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 1 May, 00:37 UTC
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What happened
Steller sea lions are significantly larger than California sea lions
Steller sea lions can grow up to 11 feet in length and weigh as much as 2,500 pounds, making them approximately twice the size of California sea lions, which typically do not exceed 850 pounds and 7 feet in length. Male Steller sea lions have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years.
Steller sea lion nicknamed Chonkers spotted at San Francisco's Pier 39
A Steller sea lion, nicknamed Chonkers, has been spotted at San Francisco's Pier 39 among California sea lions. Chonkers is estimated to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds and likely originated from coastal waters off Washington or Oregon. The sea lion was first spotted at the pier approximately one month ago.
Sea lion population at Pier 39 began after 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Sea lions did not begin gathering at San Francisco's Pier 39 until after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. One lone male was initially joined by dozens more, and by February 1990, the pinniped population at the pier had grown to more than 300 animals.
Chonkers attracts large crowds of tourists and residents to Pier 39
The presence of Chonkers has drawn significant visitor traffic to San Francisco's Pier 39, with tourists traveling from across the country to view the massive sea lion. Visitors have been gathering at the pier daily in hopes of catching a glimpse of the animal, with some traveling long distances specifically to see it.
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