Fat Bear Week Returns: Can Chunk Defend His Crown?

Fat Bear Week has officially returned to Katmai National Park, igniting excitement for the annual celebration of ursine bulking. This year, the reigning champion, Chunk 32, a formidable 1,200-pound male brown bear, has been sighted, bringing renewed focus to his potential title defense. Last year, Chunk's victory was particularly remarkable given his documented injuries, including a broken jaw, showcasing incredible resilience. Park rangers noted the severity of his jaw injury, with bone fractures and missing teeth, yet he still managed to achieve peak fatness.

As the 12th annual Fat Bear Week approaches, commencing September 22nd and concluding on September 29th, competition is expected to be fierce. Park Superintendent Mark Sturm hinted at a strong showing from a new generation of bears, with a notable increase in cubs observed this year. The contest, which began in 2014 as a single-day event, has seen exponential growth, with over 1.7 million votes cast in the previous year, indicating its widespread appeal among online voters from over 100 countries. The event celebrates the bears' vital preparation for their months-long hibernation, a period requiring significant fat reserves accumulated by consuming up to 200,000 calories daily from sources like sockeye salmon.

Katmai National Park, home to approximately 2,200 brown bears, utilizes Fat Bear Week to underscore the ecological importance of hibernation and the critical role of successful foraging in autumn. Historically, the contest was initiated by former ranger Mike Fitz to illustrate the dramatic physical transformation bears undergo from spring to fall. Last year's competition saw Chunk narrowly defeat veteran bear '856' and previously lost to '128 Grazer' in 2024, a mother bear whose cub Chunk had a past altercation with. Voting for the current year's champion will take place on fatbearweek.org.