Chonkers the ‘Food-Motivated’ Sea Lion Plops Into San Francisco
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- A very large Steller sea lion, nicknamed "Chonkers," has attracted attention at Pier 39 in San Francisco, a popular spot for smaller California sea lions and tourists.
- Chonkers weighs between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds, about two to three times larger than the typical sea lions seen at the pier, and is distinguished by his light-tan coat and boxy, bearlike head.
- Unlike California sea lions, Steller sea lions like Chonkers rarely appear at Pier 39, as they typically migrate farther offshore; experts believe Chonkers traveled about 30 miles from the Farallon Islands into San Francisco Bay.
- The shallower waters of the bay provide a safer environment with fewer predators and easier access to prey such as anchovies and rockfish, while the floating platforms offer a comfortable resting place compared to jagged ocean rocks.
- The sea lion's presence has sparked online fame, with social media users affectionately dubbing him an "AbsoluteUnit" and "Harbor Master," celebrating his impressive size and dominance among the smaller sea lions.
