Steller Sea Lion Chonkers Draws Crowds at Pier 39

A massive Steller sea lion nicknamed Chonkers has taken up residence on the floating docks at San Francisco's Pier 39, drawing crowds of tourists and generating viral attention on social media since its arrival in March.

The adult male, estimated to weigh around 2,000 pounds and stretch up to 11 feet long, towers over the California sea lions that typically haul out at the pier. Roughly two to three times larger than its smaller cousins, which weigh about 250 pounds for males, Chonkers stands out with its bearlike build, thicker neck, blunt face and light tan to reddish fur. Videos shared on platforms like Reddit and TikTok show it lounging front and center on a wooden platform, with the California sea lions keeping a respectful distance. Online commenters have called it "the king," "an absolute unit" and a "chonker," capturing the public's fascination. One visitor from Atlanta, Georgia, traveled across the country after seeing news coverage, according to reports from the scene.

Pier 39 harbor master Sheila Chandler described Chonkers as mellow and well-integrated. "He's literally twice the size of the biggest California sea lion that you can see out there," she said. "He's very...