Move Over Alcatraz: 'Chonkers' the 2,000-Pound Sea Lion Is San Francisco's Newest Viral Attraction

San Francisco has a brand new tourist attraction, and he weighs about the same as a small car.

His name is Chonkers and he's a Steller sea lion. He's absolutely enormous.

The 2,000-pound marine mammal has been making waves at Pier 39, drawing crowds and camera phones every time he pulls his massive body onto the dock. ABC7 News shared footage on Monday showing Chonkers just hanging out among the much smaller California sea lions who typically occupy the space.

The size difference is strikingly apparent. Steller sea lions are the largest of all the eared seals, and Chonkers is proof of exactly why they earned that title.

@abc7newsbayarea

The hype is continuing to build around this giant Steller sea lion nicknamed "Chonkers." The 2,000-pound animal made an appearance at San Francisco's Pier 39 again Monday. #stellersealion#sealion chonkers #sanfrancisco#pier39#abc7news

original sound - ABC7 News - ABC7 News

"The animal is one of two Steller sea lions visiting the bay," officials confirmed. "Experts say they are much larger, as you can see, than typical sea lions and can weigh up to 2,500 pounds. That's like a small car. They are huge."

The comments section had opinions:

"WE'RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER BOAT!!!"

"Chonkers "

"Word was they named him Chunkers."

"Big Chungus 2.0."

"Are the sharks not hungry or what ???"

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That last comment definitely raises a fair question. But Chonkers doesn't seem particularly worried about predators. When you weigh a literal ton, most things will just leave you alone and avoid you completely.

The nickname "Chonkers" is internet slang for animals who are, shall we say, generously proportioned. In Chonkers' case, it's not extra weight-it's just how large Steller sea lions naturally get. Males can reach up to lengths of 11 feet and weights exceeding a ton. Talk about tons of fun. They're built like some linebacker-bodybuilder hybrids with flippers.

Why Record-Breaking Sea Lions Are Surging in California

Here's what makes Chonkers' presence even more interesting: male California sea lions are actually getting bigger over time, according to research published in Current Biology.

Since the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act was passed in 1972, California sea lion populations have soared. And the males-but not the females-have been steadily growing bigger and bigger.

"Our study shows that male sea lions increased their skull size by a few millimeters, equivalent to an average of a bit more than 12-centimeter increase in male body size," lead author Ana Valenzuela-Toro, a seal researcher at UC Santa Cruz, told Newsweek.

Why just the males? It's all about sexual selection. Larger males are more successful at competing for mates on beaches. As populations grew, males expanded their habitats and diets, allowing them to grow bigger and bigger. Females, who stay in narrower zones year-round to nurse pups, didn't keep expanding.

Elliott Hazen, a research ecologist at NOAA, explained: "In the case of pinnipeds like sea lions and elephant seals, they compete for mates on the beach, increasing their sexual dimorphism and increasing pressure for larger body sizes."

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Valenzuela-Toro mentioned that while these larger sea lions are impressive looking, people should always keep in mind that they're wild predators. "They are very fast on land, and their bite or close contact can lead to several serious health issues, so people must be careful and never get close to them in the wild."

So yes, Chonkers is absolutely magnificent. Yes, he's the cutest baby (despite weighing a whopping 2,000 pounds). But he's also a wild animal who deserves his distance.

Alcatraz may be the historic tourist draw, but Chonkers is giving the famous prison island some serious competition.

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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 5:27 AM.