The Fat Bear Week season at Katmai National Park in Alaska has begun, and last year's champion, Chunk 32, has been spotted again. This bear, weighing 1,200 pounds (about 544 kilograms), was seen on live cameras on Wednesday at Brooks Falls in the park.
Competition in Fat Bear Week
Chunk's decisive victory last year was remarkable, as he competed with injuries including a broken jaw. Officials have stated that the cause of his injury is still unclear. Sarah Bruce, a Katmai park ranger, said: "His entire jaw, one of his canine teeth, and his front teeth are completely broken. This bone is completely shattered, and he can still get very fat. This is a very resilient bear." But can Chunk retain the championship title this season?
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New Competitors and Growing Trends
Mark Storm, the park superintendent, stated in a statement: "This year, more cubs have been seen at Brooks Camp, which is unprecedented compared to previous years. A new generation of fat bears is forming, and they are off to a good start." Chunk's competitors in the winner-takes-all Fat Bear Week will be announced from September 22 to 29.
Last year, twelve furry bears participated in the single-elimination competition for online voters from over 100 countries. According to the National Park Service, over 1.7 million votes were cast by the end of the week, while this number was less than 1,700 at the beginning of the contest. Although there is no real prize for the bears, the winner is recognized as the "best example of obesity and success in brown bears."
Fat Bear Week symbolizes the annual preparation of bears for their hibernation period in October and November. Bears hibernate to conserve energy and due to a lack of food resources in winter. During the summer and early fall, bears must consume large amounts of food, such as salmon, to store the necessary fat reserves for the energy needed during hibernation. Currently, bears are at their peak weight, and scientists are conducting educational estimates of their weight to avoid disturbing the animals.
Approximately 2,200 brown bears live in Katmai Park, which also hosts moose, wolves, and bald eagles. Fat Bear Week was initiated in 2014 by Mike Fitz, a former ranger of this 4 million-acre park.
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Source: independent.co.uk
