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It can’t be easy to gracefully maneuver 2000 pounds into the water, but somehow Chonkers *** sea lion does it. It’s absolutely the biggest sea lion I’ve ever seen. It’s an amazing creature. It’s not just locals coming to see him. People from out of town heard about the giant sea lion and made *** point to stop by the pier in hopes of *** sighting. I’m visiting from Chicago. We do not have these creatures in Lake Michigan. We’re from North Carolina, so this is our first time even seeing them, and yeah, it’s pretty big, especially when you compare them to the other ones. is what’s called *** stellar sea lion, larger than some of the biggest California sea lions that usually hang out at Pier 39. He’s so much larger than anything you can imagine, and he’s very mellow, and he’s, you know, he’s got quite *** presence when he’s here. Chonker’s celebrity status is at an all-time high this week, but he’s been in town for *** month. Pier 39 harbor master Sheila Chandor said he’s no stranger to San Francisco. He’s been coming and going for the last 15. Years and this is the longest we’ve ever seen him stay so we think that’s great for the health of the bay and also Chandor says the health of the community, families and strangers bonding over Pier 39’s headline-making visitor. It’s *** happy fun story in *** happy, fun setting, so it’s magic. It really is, and I think people have got something else to talk about besides all the problems in the world.
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Visitors from across the country are flocking to a famous San Francisco pier to see one particular animal — a 2,000-pound sea lion named Chonkers.Employees at the harbor say Chonkers is bringing some much-needed joy to the public.”He’s so much larger than anything you can imagine, and he’s very mellow, and he’s, you know, he’s got quite a presence when he’s here,” said Sheila Chandor, harbormaster at Pier 39, a shopping center and attraction built on a pier.Chonkers’ celebrity status is at an all-time high this week, but he’s been in town for a month, and he’s no stranger to San Francisco.“He’s been coming and going for the last 15 years, and this is the longest we’ve ever seen him stay, so we think that’s great for the health of the bay,” Chandor said.The harbormaster said families and strangers are bonding over Pier 39’s headline-making visitor.“It’s a happy, fun story in a happy, fun setting, so it’s, it’s magic, it really is. And I think people are, have got something else to talk about besides all the problems in the world.””It’s absolutely the biggest sea lion I’ve ever seen,” said Tyler Barnum, a San Francisco resident. “It’s an amazing creature.”It’s not just locals coming to see Chonkers. People from out of town heard about the giant sea lion and made a point to stop by the pier in hopes of a sighting.”I’m visiting from Chicago,” said Kate Knibbs. “We do not have these creatures in Lake Michigan.”Chonkers is what’s called a Steller sea lion, larger than some of the biggest California sea lions that usually hang out at Pier 39.The harbormaster says Chonkers most likely picked that spot due to the amount of anchovies and sardines in the water.
Visitors from across the country are flocking to a famous San Francisco pier to see one particular animal — a 2,000-pound sea lion named Chonkers.
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Employees at the harbor say Chonkers is bringing some much-needed joy to the public.
“He’s so much larger than anything you can imagine, and he’s very mellow, and he’s, you know, he’s got quite a presence when he’s here,” said Sheila Chandor, harbormaster at Pier 39, a shopping center and attraction built on a pier.
Chonkers’ celebrity status is at an all-time high this week, but he’s been in town for a month, and he’s no stranger to San Francisco.
“He’s been coming and going for the last 15 years, and this is the longest we’ve ever seen him stay, so we think that’s great for the health of the bay,” Chandor said.
The harbormaster said families and strangers are bonding over Pier 39’s headline-making visitor.
“It’s a happy, fun story in a happy, fun setting, so it’s, it’s magic, it really is. And I think people are, have got something else to talk about besides all the problems in the world.”
“It’s absolutely the biggest sea lion I’ve ever seen,” said Tyler Barnum, a San Francisco resident. “It’s an amazing creature.”
It’s not just locals coming to see Chonkers. People from out of town heard about the giant sea lion and made a point to stop by the pier in hopes of a sighting.
“I’m visiting from Chicago,” said Kate Knibbs. “We do not have these creatures in Lake Michigan.”
Chonkers is what’s called a Steller sea lion, larger than some of the biggest California sea lions that usually hang out at Pier 39.
The harbormaster says Chonkers most likely picked that spot due to the amount of anchovies and sardines in the water.
