New Giant Steller Sea Lion Appears at San Francisco’s Pier 39, Mimicking Viral Star ‘Chonkers’

POLICY WIRE — San Francisco, USA — A massive Steller sea lion made a splash at the city’s iconic Pier 39 on Thursday, drawing a crowd of excited tourists who noticed a striking resemblance to a previous viral celebrity.

While the newcomer’s size was impressive, officials clarified that this was not the original Chonkers, the 2,000-pound animal that became a local sensation earlier this year.

Sue Muzzin, representing Pier 39, told SFGate that the new visitor appeared slightly smaller than the original star and suggested he might be a companion of Chonkers.

The newcomer stood out significantly against the backdrop of the hundreds of smaller California sea lions that typically occupy the docks.

The original Chonkers first appeared in March, accompanied by a juvenile Steller sea lion that departed after only a few days.

In a rare occurrence, Chonkers remained for nearly two months, gaining internet fame after observers realized he was roughly three times the size of the surrounding sea lions.

According to Pier 39, the animal’s massive scale attracted huge crowds, and Reddit users were responsible for creating his famous nickname.

The Marine Mammal Center capitalized on the fame by producing a Chonkers plush toy, which sold out rapidly.

Tracking of the animal by the Marine Mammal Center began on March 13, coinciding with a viral video posted by Pier 39 showing the creature lounging on a dock.

The Wall Street Journal reported that witnesses described the sound of Chonkers hitting the dock as being similar to an oak tree falling down.

Sheila Chandor, the longtime harbormaster at Pier 39, informed SFGate that while this new visitor is a lookalike, the trend is noteworthy.

Chandor noted that Steller sea lions have been appearing in the area more frequently this year than in any other year of her memory.

Muzzin explained that these animals are typically driven by hunger, feasting on salmon, capelin, herring, and primarily anchovies.

Though more common in Alaska and Washington, wildlife experts believe Chonkers likely traveled to the San Francisco Bay Area in search of food.

Steller sea lions are the largest eared seal species, capable of reaching 2,500 pounds and lengths of 11 feet.

They are distinguished from the smaller California sea lions by their broad, bear-like facial features rather than narrow, dog-like ones.

Giancarlo Rulli, a spokesperson for the Marine Mammal Center, told SFGate that while Steller sea lions are infrequent visitors to Pier 39, they are not unusual.

However, Rulli emphasized that the length of Chonkers’ previous stay was exceptional.

Pier 39 staff currently have no plans to give the new visitor a name.

Muzzin told SFGate that while she expects the animal to leave within a few days, she hopes he remains through the upcoming holiday weekend.

“We’ll see if he sticks around,” Muzzin said.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)