'Chonkers,' the massive sea lion, is drawing crowds at San Francisco pier

Key Points:

• A massive Steller sea lion nicknamed “Chonkers,” weighing about 2,000 pounds, has attracted tourists and residents to San Francisco’s Pier 39, becoming a popular local spectacle.
• Steller sea lions are larger than California sea lions, with males reaching up to 2,500 pounds and 11 feet in length, and are native to coastal waters in the northern Pacific, including Central California and Japan.
• “Chonkers” first appeared at Pier 39 about a month ago, gaining attention on social media platforms like Reddit, where users share photos and videos of the sea lion lounging and interacting with the environment.
• Thousands of sea lions gather at Pier 39 seasonally due to abundant food and protection from predators, with Steller sea lions distinguished from California sea lions by physical traits such as the absence of a sagittal crest in males.
• Steller sea lions have distinct breeding patterns, with pups born between mid-May and mid-July, and face natural predators including killer whales and whale sharks.