Pictured: Sea lions swarm San Francisco pier as population booms
Nearly a thousand sea lions have flocked to a pier in San Francisco, making the site an attraction for tourists wishing to see the lounging marine animals.
Officials from Pier 39 said the count had reached between 900 and a thousand sea lions on their decking on Tuesday, the highest number seen on the pier for 15 years.
They credited the rise to an abundant food supply of anchovy coming from the Farallon Islands, west of the Golden Gate Bridge.
A webcam set up to live stream activity on the pier showed the large herd bathing and frolicking in the sun, and making a splash in the water to cool off.
Officials described the pier as “an ideal living situation” for the creatures, with ample food and shelter from predators.
California’s sea lions are known for their “intelligence, playfulness and noisy barking”, according to the pier’s website, which also notes the majority of the herd are male.
Male sea lions typically weigh up to 390kg and can measure 7ft in length. Although they usually avoid humans, they may bite when provoked.
The pier’s staff have urged tourists to take advantage of the display being put on by the animals, but warned visitors of the pungent odour produced by the large group.
