How to watch Chonkers, the 2,000-pound sea lion live from San Francisco
A 2,000-pound Steller sea lion named Chonkers has become a standout attraction among California sea lions at San Francisco’s Pier 39, and viewers can watch him live via the pier’s online livestream. Chonkers is larger and lighter in color than the surrounding California sea lions, with distinct physical and vocal traits typical of his species. Steller sea lions like Chonkers haul out on docks for rest, thermoregulation, and social activities, and they can travel long distances following prey. The sea lions at Pier 39 first arrived in 1989 after the Loma Prieta earthquake, and their population now fluctuates seasonally, peaking at over 2,100 in mid-2024.
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Spend your day watching Chonkers. Image: Pier 39 live cam via Reddit Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Email address Sign up Thank you! Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. While an enormous sea lion named Chonkers makes a splash in San Francisco, you don’t have to live in the Golden City to sneak a peek. Viewers can watch the action from home with Pier 39’s livestream as this 2,000-pound Stellar sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) cozies up with the smaller California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) that “haul-out” along the docks on Pier 39. To watch the Pier 39 livestream, scroll down to the bottom of the page until you see “VIEW THE SEA LIONS LIVE.” Then, press the “GO LIVE” button.
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