He is known officially by the more prosaic name Bear 89. He was nicknamed Backpack by rangers who noted his habit of climbing on his mother’s back when she swam across the river.
He previously suffered a leg injury that left him with a limp and has apparently adapted his lifestyle, preferring to laze on rocks rather than fight with other bears.
“Unlike many large adult male bears, Backpack hasn’t shown much aggression toward his competitors,” his contestant profile says.
Sarah Bruce, a Katmai park ranger, told Alaska Public Media that Backpack now weighed about 544kg, and was a clear fan favourite.
“He’s one of the bears that we’ve been able to watch on the live cams since the live cams were put in in 2012.”
The bears of Katmai spend summer and early autumn gorging on salmon as they bulk up before a long winter of hibernation.
For five months, they will not eat or drink, slowing all bodily functions as they shelter from the harsh Alaskan weather.
While Fat Bear Week is largely for fun, organisers say it helps to raise awareness of brown bears, their habitats, and the risks they face from human activity.
– AFP