Story perspectives

Giant Sea Lion “Chonkers” Draws Crowds at Pier 39

5/2/2026

Summary

Chonkers Pier Routine

Chonkers, a massive sea lion, has become a popular attraction at Pier 39 in San Francisco.
Marina maintenance assistant Stephen Arsenault reports that Chonkers usually arrives on the floating dock by 7:30 a.m.
He typically remains on the dock until about 10 o’clock, after which he jumps into the water.
After entering the water, Chonkers spends the remainder of the day in San Francisco Bay.

Summary

Chonkers Attracts Tourists

Laura Gill of The Marine Mammal Center identified “Chonkers” as a Steller sea lion likely from the Farallon Islands.
Social-media nicknames “AbsoluteUnit” and “Sir Chungus Maximus” have attracted many tourists to Pier 39.
Experts warn Chonkers could herald additional Steller sea lions joining the pier’s colony, which expanded after the 1989 quake to over 300 animals by February 1990, supported by abundant anchovies, rockfish and herring in the Bay.

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Chonkers Pier Routine

Chonkers, a massive sea lion, has become a popular attraction at Pier 39 in San Francisco.
Marina maintenance assistant Stephen Arsenault reports that Chonkers usually arrives on the floating dock by 7:30 a.m.
He typically remains on the dock until about 10 o’clock, after which he jumps into the water.
After entering the water, Chonkers spends the remainder of the day in San Francisco Bay.

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