A sizable sea lion appeared at San Francisco’s Pier 39 Thursday, and many wonder if this Steller sea lion is Chonkers or another “sizable star.”
“Well, the guy in the middle is like the head honcho. We were just talking about him. He’s like the dude in charge,” Katie, who is visiting from New Jersey, said.
This Steller sea lion is more than double the size of the California sea lions that have helped make Pier 39 so popular over the years.
Earlier this year Chonkers, a gigantic Steller sea lion, came to Pier 39 and spent weeks there. It didn’t take long for him to become kind of legendary, particularly online.
The new sea lion showed up Thursday afternoon at Pier 39, and staff came out to check to see if this is Chonkers. However, they say the new sea lion is a little smaller than Chonkers, so they are not quite sure yet.
Chonkers ruled Pier 39 for a few weeks in April and May. His coat was lighter colored than most of the California sea lions around him.
Back then, spotters said he also happened to have a smaller Steller sea lion with him. Now, one of the theories is that Chonkers sidekick back then could be the one who showed back up at Pier 39.
Nobody’s 100%, but everyone says it’s still a sight to see.
Steller sea lions can grow up to 2,500 pounds, while the biggest California sea lion was 1,000 pounds.
Seeing one in the state is rare because they usually stick to colder environments like Alaska and don’t usually venture into urban settings.
But earlier this year, the harbor master at Pier 39 said the Bay has been teaming with anchovies and other fish to feed on, which is possibly what has been attracting Chonkers and others to the area and “feeding” the big debate over the identity of this super-sized sea lion.
