Large sea lion ‘Chonkers’ attracts crowds to San Francisco’s Pier 39

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He’s getting a "seal" of approval — and stealing the highlight.

A large sea lion nicknamed "Chonkers," estimated to weigh between 1,500 and a pair of,000 kilos, is drawing crowds to San Francisco ’s Pier 39, the place the uncommon Steller sea lion has been noticed lounging amongst a lot smaller California sea lions, in response to The Marine Mammal Middle.

The outsized marine mammal has rapidly develop into a must-see attraction, with guests flocking to the favored waterfront vacation spot for a glimpse of the unusually giant animal, whose presence is uncommon in comparison with the pier’s typical sea lion inhabitants.

The huge sea lion dwarfs the smaller animals that usually crowd the docks.

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Chonkers rests close to Pier 31 after an extended day of delighting vacationers and guests who got here to catch a glimpse of the large Stellar sea lion. (The Related Press)

"He’s like a Volkswagen ! He’s so big!" mentioned customer Oluwaseyi Akinbobola, who rushed to the pier hoping to see the animal after listening to about it.

Specialists estimate Chonkers weighs between 1,500 and a pair of,000 kilos and certain traveled from waters off Washington or Oregon , mentioned Laura Gill, public applications supervisor at The Marine Mammal Middle in close by Sausalito.

Guests snapped pictures and gathered alongside the pier Thursday morning as the big sea lion flopped onto the docks, surrounded by dozens of smaller California sea lions that usually inhabit the realm.

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Chonkers, an enormous Steller sea lion, lies on a dock with different sea lions at Fisherman's Wharf on April 30. (Haven Daley/AP)

The protected docks provide shelter from predators and tough waves, together with an plentiful food provide together with anchovies, herring and rockfish, Gill mentioned.

"There’s loads of meals in San Francisco Bay for them … plenty of straightforward prey for them," she mentioned.

Regardless of his dimension, the Steller sea lion has been seen trying to snuggle among the many smaller animals for heat, although he "stands out like a sore thumb," Gill mentioned.

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<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/672/378/chonkers-steller-sea-lion-san-francisco-fox-news-001.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/1344/756/chonkers-steller-sea-lion-san-francisco-fox-news-001.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/931/523/chonkers-steller-sea-lion-san-francisco-fox-news-001.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/05/1862/1046/chonkers-steller-sea-lion-san-francisco-fox-news-001.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Chonkers, an enormous Steller sea lion, sits on a dock at Fishermen's Wharf in San Francisco on April 30. (Haven Daley/AP)

Sea lions have gathered at Pier 39 since shortly after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, whose epicenter was in close by Santa Cruz County, when a small variety of animals started occupying the docks earlier than rising into a well known vacationer attraction.

Chonkers has been most seen within the early morning hours and may be troublesome to identify later within the day, including urgency for guests hoping to catch a glimpse.

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Officers say it stays to be seen whether or not extra Steller sea lions will comply with, however for now, the outsized customer has develop into an in a single day, and maybe chubby sensation at certainly one of San Francisco’s hottest vacationer locations.