The other day we went down to Pier 39 to mingle with the tourists. I had been wanting to take some pics of the sea lions and I finally had my chance.
The Sea Lions arrived at the pier shortly after the Loma Prieta Quake in 1989. At first, they were unwelcome as they made it impossible for the boats to dock. However, they were soon made welcome and it was the boats that were evicted. They have since become a major tourist attraction.
The Marine Mammal Center has a good display there and they arrive post haste when there is an injured sea lion.
The docks weren’t full of sea lions when we were there. I’ve seen the docks full of them. They’re noisy enough that they can be heard down on Market street, many blocks away. It can get rather smelly too. They are worth visiting as it’s rare to be that close to them. While not in danger of extinction at this time, they are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection act of 1972. The act prohibits the hunting, killing, capture, or harassment of the Sea Lions and other marine mammals.
Here are the rest of the photos. I hope you enjoy them.
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