Giant sea lion ‘Chonkers’ draws crowds to San Francisco’s Pier 39

It gets the “seal” of approval and becomes the center of attention.

A massive sea lion nicknamed “Chonkers,” estimated to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds, is drawing crowds to San Francisco’s Pier 39, where the rare Steller sea lion has been spotted lounging among much smaller California sea lions, according to The Marine Mammal Center.

The massive marine mammal has quickly become a must-see attraction, with visitors flocking to the popular beach destination to see the unusually large animal, whose presence is rare compared to the typical sea lion population on the pier.

The huge sea lion dwarfs the smaller animals that often populate the docks.

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“It’s like a Volkswagen! It’s so huge!” Visitor Oluwaseyi Akinbobola, who ran to the pier hoping to see the animal after hearing it, said:

Laura Gill, public programs manager for the Marine Mammal Center in nearby Sausalito, said experts estimate Chonkers weighed between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds and likely came from waters off Washington or Oregon.

Visitors gathered along the pier Thursday morning, posing for photos as the massive sea lion crashed into the dock, surrounded by dozens of smaller California sea lions that live in the area.

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Chonkers, a giant Steller sea lion, lies on a dock with other sea lions at Fisherman’s Wharf on April 30. (Haven Daley/AP)

Protected docks offer abundant food sources such as anchovies, herring and rockfish, as well as shelter from predators and rough waves, Gill said.

“There’s plenty of food for them in the San Francisco Bay… lots of easy prey for them,” he said.

Despite its size, the Steller sea lion tried to nestle in among smaller animals for warmth, but “it stuck out like a sore thumb,” Gill said.

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Chonkers, a giant Steller sea lion, sits on a pier at Fishermen’s Wharf in San Francisco on April 30. (Haven Daley/AP)

Sea lions have been congregating at Pier 39 since shortly after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, whose epicenter was in nearby Santa Cruz County, when small numbers of the animals began occupying the docks before it became a well-known tourist attraction.

Chonkers were most visible in the early morning hours and can be difficult to spot later in the day, creating urgency for visitors wanting to take a look.

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Officials say it remains to be seen whether more Steller sea lions will follow, but for now, the oversized visitor has become an overnight and perhaps overweight sensation at one of San Francisco’s most popular tourist attractions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.