"Chonkers is a Steller sea lion, which is a heftier variety of the species, compared to his California sea lion counterparts. The animal first showed up at Pier 39 about a month ago and has attracted interest on online forums such as Reddit, with users posting photos and videos of the sea lion sunning and scratching his belly with his flippers."
"Male Steller sea lions weigh up to 2,500 pounds and reach 11 feet in length with a lifespan of 20 to 30 years, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. According to the Marine Mammal Center, female stellar sea lions can grow to 9 feet in length and 1,000 pounds."
"Thousands of sea lions gather at the pier depending on the time of year. Sea lions like to flock there because there is plenty of food and it's protected from predators, harbor officials told the outlet."
"Adult male stellar sea lions don't have a visible sagittal crest (the bump on the top of their heads) that is observed in adult male California sea lions, according to the Marine Mammal Center."
'Chonkers' is a Steller sea lion weighing about 2,000 pounds, significantly larger than California sea lions. He appeared at Pier 39 a month ago, drawing attention from tourists and online communities. Steller sea lions can weigh up to 2,500 pounds and reach lengths of 11 feet. They are known to gather at the pier due to abundant food and protection from predators. Adult males lack the sagittal crest seen in California sea lions, and they inhabit coastal waters in the northern Pacific.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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