For the inaugural occasion, Fat Bear Week embraces substantial, magnificent mother bears along with their hefty offspring.
The yearly bracket-style tournament, managed by Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve, marks a tribute to the park’s robust brown bears, who feast on salmon from the Brooks River to bulk up before their winter hibernation.
“This year witnessed an unprecedented number of bear families at the river,” Alaska naturalist Mike Fitz shared with host Nil Kӧksal on As It Happens.
“Therefore, this year’s Fat Bear Week showcases five mother bears and their cubs to narrate some of these tales, as the well-being and size of a cub directly reflect the mother’s dedication.”
Competitor Bear 910 in Fat Bear Week is the offspring of former champion, Beadnose. (C. Loberg/Fat Bear Week)
Fat Bear Week was established in 2014 and has since gained significant popularity, giving rise to similar ventures, such as Fat Marmot Week in Colorado.
Last year witnessed over 1.7 million votes, and the team anticipates surpassing that figure this year, according to Fitz, a former ranger at Katmai National Park who now serves as the resident naturalist for Explore.org, a partner in organizing the competition.
The competition highlights 16 bears or bear families competing in a single-elimination, bracket-style showdown.
With a particularly abundant salmon run, the competition is intense.
Chunk defends his title
The leading contender is Chunk, also known as Bear 32, a fan favorite with multiple triumphs. <a class="link-_o8iA html-anchor" href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/chunk-alaska
