SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — San Francisco’s celebrity Steller sea lion, named Chonkers, has left the docks of Pier 39. Now there’s a new heavyweight in the city.
A colony of noisy California sea lions gathers daily to sunbathe and rest on the pier’s K-Dock. Steller sea lions are less common. Earlier this year, Chonkers took over social media and generated fanbases for standing out in the crowd.
On Wednesday, a different enormous Steller sea lion dazzled onlookers at the pier.
A new Steller sea lion is seen in San Francisco on Sept. 23, 2026. (KRON4 Photo)
The 10-foot-long animal established a place for himself on the crowded docks. One tourist from Florida told KRON4, “It’s so cute. We see gators, sharks, manatees, not sea lions.”
A new Steller sea lion is seen in San Francisco on Sept. 23, 2026. (KRON4 Photo)
Sue Pemberton with California Academy of Sciences said Steller sea lions “probably followed their California sea lion friends into the harbor there and hauled out on the docks. I’ve been here on the pier working here for 41 years. This is the first time we’ve had this number of visitations from Steller sea lions on Pier 39.”
The yet-to-be-named sea lion has visible scarring, setting him apart from Chonkers, Pemberton said. He likely decided to stay in San Francisco for a while because of schools of sardines that swim through the marina provide plenty of food.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.