Massive 2,000-pound sea lion shocks tourists at iconic US hot spot: 'He’s like a Volkswagen!'

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! He’s getting a "seal" of approval — and stealing the spotlight.A massive sea lion nicknamed "Chonkers," estimated to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds, is drawing crowds to San Francisco’s Pier 39, where the rare Steller sea lion has been spotted lounging among much smaller California sea lions, according to The Marine Mammal Center.The outsized marine mammal has quickly become a must-see attraction, with visitors flocking to the popular waterfront destination for a glimpse of the unusually large animal, whose presence is rare compared to the pier’s typical sea lion population.The massive sea lion dwarfs the smaller animals that typically crowd the docks.APEX PREDATOR THREATENING NORTHWEST SALMON SPARKS RARE BIPARTISAN PUSH TO 'KILL MORE' Chonkers rests near Pier 31 after a long day of delighting tourists and visitors who came to catch a glimpse of the massive Stellar sea lion. (The Associated Press)"He’s like a Volkswagen! He’s so huge!" said visitor Oluwaseyi Akinbobola, who rushed to the pier hoping to see the animal after hearing about it.Experts estimate Chonkers weighs between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds and likely traveled from waters off Washington or Oregon, said Laura Gill, public programs manager at The