Sea Lions A No-Show At Pier 39 Anniversary Party
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - What if you gave an anniversary party and the guests of honor didn't show up? That's what happened at San Francisco's Pier 39 Wednesday.
San Francisco kindergarteners crowded the bleachers at the end of Pier 39 to see the large sea lions that are usually lolling on their floating platforms, in honor of the animals' 21st anniversary at the pier. The only problem: none of the animals were there Wednesday.
KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:
The explanation for the empty platforms seems to have started Tuesday night, when one of the wooden platforms turned over, and crews had to be sent in to fix it. This scared the sea lions off.
"Obviously, if there's something, like a person, or another disturbance coming into their area, they're not going to want to stick around there," said Carrie Chen, the director of education and conservation for The Aquarium of the Bay. "But I'd say this is very short term. They're going to take this chance to go get a swim and once the humans are out of their area they're going to go right back to where they were."
Last year the sea lions left Pier 39 for weeks, making those who depend on tourists in the area very nervous. Still, the animals did eventually return. It is suspected they were visiting the North Coast, where it was easier for them to find food.
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