Massive Sea Lion 'Chonkers' At SF's Pier 39 Is A Viral Sensation

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — On any given day, San Francisco's Pier 39 is filled with crowds of people trying to get a peek at the sea lions.

But lately, they've been gathering for one particular sea lion that the internet has nicknamed "Chonkers."

"That is BEEFY," one Reddit user commented on a photo posted of the massive sea lion earlier this month. "We are OBSESSED," another person said.

Chonkers is a Steller Sea lion, a different species than those that can usually be found at Pier 39.

It seems to have arrived at the dock sometime in March, most likely due to an abundance of food in the area, and experts have been tracking the massive sea lion since, according to the Wall Street Journal.

A video taken by the Wall Street Journal appears to show Chonkers flying out of the water and onto a platform, despite its large size. Chonker's weight, however, appears too much for the platform, setting it off balance, and as a result, sending other smaller unsuspecting sea lions back into the water.