Katmai National Park in Alaska kicked off Fat Bear Week, a fun and furry competition that celebrates brown bears preparing for their long winter hibernation.
Each autumn, rangers at the park watch as the bears eat lots of salmon to gain the weight they need to survive the cold months. Fat Bear Week invites people around the world to vote online for the bear they believe best shows off the size, strength, and spirit of true hibernation success.
The contest is set up like a sports tournament. Bears face off in pairs, with the winner of each round moving forward until one bear is crowned the fattest of them all. While there is a separate contest for younger bears, the main event features the biggest and boldest adults.
Top contenders this year include 32 Chunk, a huge male making a comeback after an injury, and 128 Grazer, the reigning champion who has won the crown two years in a row. Her cub just won the junior title, making it a proud season for their family.
Other fan favourites are 503, a peaceful bear known for getting along with others, 26, a devoted mother bear, and 602, nicknamed “flotato” for often napping in the river while fishing.
Fat Bear Week began in 2014 as a one-day event with just 1,700 votes. It has since grown into a worldwide celebration, with over 1.4 million people from 60 countries voting last year.
Voters can also support the park by donating to The Otis Fund, named after the first Fat Bear Week champion. Otis, who once caught 42 fish in an hour, hasn’t been seen in years but is remembered fondly as a true legend.
Voting runs until 30 September, and with more salmon than ever this year, the bears are bigger—and fluffier—than ever before.
