Massive sea lion named ‘Chonk’ is almost the size of a small car

by

A very large sea lion known as ‘Chonkers’ is becoming famous online. People in San Francisco have nicknamed him ‘Chonkers’ because he’s much bigger than the other sea lions around.

Sea lions have lived at Pier 39 in San Francisco since 1990, and recently, one particular sea lion has become quite famous, attracting attention both locally and internationally.

Chonkers is a Steller sea lion, a type of eared seal that’s almost threatened. These animals live in the North Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Pacific Northwest of the United States all the way to East Asia and Russia.

Male Steller sea lions typically weigh about 1,500 pounds (700 kilograms). However, one sea lion named Chonkers is thought to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds (680–907 kilograms)—almost as much as a small car!

Everyone in San Francisco is talking about Chonkers, a massive sea lion who’s become a local celebrity at Pier 39! Weighing in at nearly 2,000 pounds, he’s a rare and impressive sight. (Source: @kron4news)

— Joey Horta (@JoeyHorta) April 29, 2026

Enormous sea lion stuns visitors at Pier 39 with rare appearance

According to Laura Gill, who manages public programs at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, Chonkers is so large probably because there’s plenty of food available in the San Francisco Bay.

According to Gill, there’s an abundance of food in the San Francisco Bay – plenty of fish like rockfish, anchovies, and herring for the whale to eat. However, despite its efforts to blend in, the whale is very noticeable and doesn’t quite fit in with its surroundings.

Chonkers is often spotted at the pier in the mornings, attempting to join the other sea lions and get warm. However, his large size makes it hard for him to fit into their cozy groups.

A large sea lion nicknamed “Chonkers” has taken up residence on the dock at Pier 39 in San Francisco this spring. KRON4 News reporter Joey Horta spotted him today. Chonkers is noticeably bigger than the other sea lions lounging on K-Dock; he’s a Steller sea lion, which…

— KRON4 News (@kron4news) April 29, 2026

People in the area have become very fond of the large whale, with one resident describing him as both adorable and incredibly big.

“He’s like a Volkswagen! He’s so huge!” another remarked.

According to KRON4 News, seeing Chonkers is special – he only visits Pier 39 every few years.

A 10-year-old girl’s rescue of a rare Mexican axolotl in Wales has made the animal a recent social media sensation, and she’s decided to keep it as her pet.

Read More

2026-05-01 22:49