In a fun and furry competition across Texas State Parks, a squirrel named Chunkosaurus Rex has been named the winner of the first-ever Fat Squirrel Week.
The event, organised by Texas Parks and Wildlife, invited people to vote for their favourite plump squirrel by liking photos on social media.
Chunkosaurus Rex lives in Dinosaur Valley State Park near Glen Rose, Texas. He won the top prize after going head-to-head in a final round against another chubby competitor, Chunk Norris from Fort Richardson State Park. Other squirrels who made it to the semi-finals included Nutella from Lake Mineral Wells and Stanley “The Texas Tank” from Cleburne.
Inspired by the well-known Fat Bear Week in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, Texas’ version celebrated its own round rodents as they prepared for winter by storing extra body fat.
The public enjoyed seeing the squirrels’ photos and cheering on their favourites. Officials said Chunkosaurus Rex is a well-known character in his park, often seen dashing around in search of acorns and leftover snacks from visitors.
Dinosaur Valley State Park shared its excitement online, thanking fans for their support. “Dinosaur Valley is proud to be the home of this behemoth!” they wrote.
