‘Chonkers’ the massive sea lion draws crowds to San Francisco’s Pier 39 – Local News Matters

‘Chonkers’ the massive sea lion draws crowds to San Francisco’s Pier 39  Local News Matters

AN INTREPID SEA LION nicknamed Chonkers is waddling his way into the hearts of tourists and locals who have flocked to San Francisco's Pier 39 for a A massive sea lion nicknamed “Chonkers” is drawing crowds to Pier 39, where the rare Steller sea lion stands out among smaller California sea lions. AN INTREPID SEA LION nicknamed Chonkers is waddling his way into the hearts of tourists and locals who have flocked to San Francisco’s Pier 39 for a glimpse of the massive pinniped. On Thursday morning, visitors snapped photos as the Steller sea lion flopped on the pier, surrounded by dozens of much smaller California sea lions that call the docks home.

“He’s like a Volkswagen! He’s so huge!” said Oluwaseyi Akinbobola, a visitor from Los Angeles who had an extra half hour so she ran down to the pier for a hopeful peek of the elusive sea lion. “I have heard everywhere about this big giant sea lion, and I like to look at things, so just thought I’d check it out.” Chonkers likely came from up north off the coast of Washington or Oregon and is estimated to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds (680 and 907 kilograms), said Laura Gill, public programs manager at The Marine Mammal Center in nearby Sausalito. Chonkers has been one of