The brown bear “Grazer” won the competition to become the fattest furry animal in Katmai National Park against the impressive male “32 Chunk”. Just like last year, these two giants faced off in the final round of the “Fat Bear” competition in Alaska. “Grazer” also won the title in 2023.
This chubby bear worked hard all summer, raising a cub and eating salmon to successfully survive hibernation, according to park administration.
“Grazer” received significantly more votes (over 71,000) than its rival (approximately 30,000 votes).
Tenth edition of “Fat Bear Week”
For the tenth year, the park in southwestern Alaska is organizing ‘Fat Bear Week’. Six women and six men had been in the race for the strange title for a week. After six rounds of voting, only two competitors faced each other in the final. More than a million votes came from all over the world.
Before and after photos show how the skinny fur-bearing animals gain weight after hibernation in the summer. These fat reserves allow them to survive hibernation without eating. Bear enthusiasts can use webcams to watch the animals catch salmon in the Brooks River.
“32 Chunk” didn’t make it anymore
One of the most impressive male candidates was “32 Chunk”, with an estimated body weight of 550 kilograms and a striking scar on his snout. The 20-year-old bear with the massive backside has participated in the race several times, but has not yet managed to take first place.
With the curious competition, Katmai Park wants to provide information about the ecosystem and habitat of the more than 2,000 brown bears in the region and draw attention to dangers, such as those caused by climate change.
Source: Krone
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