A massive Steller sea lion nicknamed “Chonkers,” estimated to weigh 1,500 to 2,000 pounds, has drawn crowds to San Francisco’s Pier 39, The Marine Mammal Center said.
Laura Gill, public programs manager at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, said experts believe the animal likely traveled from waters off Washington or Oregon. The center provided the weight estimate.
Gill said the docks offer shelter from predators and rough waves and an abundant food supply, including anchovies, herring and rockfish. “There’s plenty of food in San Francisco Bay for them … a lot of easy prey for them,” she said.
The Marine Mammal Center said sea lions have occupied the Pier 39 docks since shortly after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, when a small number of animals began using the floating platforms. The center said Chonkers has been most visible in the early morning and may be harder to spot later in the day, and it is unclear whether more Steller sea lions will follow.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
