Brown bear 32 Chunk captured his first Fat Bear Week title at Alaska’s Katmai National Park after years as a fan favorite. Chunk defeated a competitive field including two-time winner 128 Grazer and runner-up Bear 856 in the bracket-style online voting competition. This year’s contest set a new record with more than 1.5 million total votes cast across the 20-year-old event. Chunk managed to gain significant weight during late summer despite suffering a broken jaw in June from an apparent fight with another male bear. “The astonishing salmon runs in Katmai are essential to the survival of the park’s ecosystem and brown bears,” said Katmai Park Superintendent Mark Sturm. “Fat Bear Week enables people from around the world to actively engage in learning about bears while cheering for their favorite competitor.” The annual competition promotes conservation and celebrates the park’s wildlife. (Story URL)
