{"id":176593,"date":"2025-10-03T03:51:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T03:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/176593\/"},"modified":"2025-10-03T03:51:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T03:51:08","slug":"massive-chunk-wins-fat-bear-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/176593\/","title":{"rendered":"Massive \u201cChunk\u201d Wins Fat Bear Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Katmai National Park, Alaska\u00a0\u2014(Map)<\/a><\/p>\n

Since 2014, the Katmai National Park in Alaska has held \u201cFat Bear Week\u201d. It\u2019s a week-long online contest between selected bears in the park, with viewers voting over the internet for the bear which appears to have gained the most weight. This year, the winner was a massive bear called \u201cChunk\u201d.<\/p>\n

In the winter, brown bears in Alaska hibernate, lying inactive for months. During this time, they lose up to a third of their body weight. So before their long winter sleep, it\u2019s important for the bears to put on as much weight as possible. For females who might soon be raising cubs, the extra weight is especially important.<\/p>\n

\"TheA massive bear called \u201cChunk\u201d has won Katmai National Park\u2019s Fat Bear Week 2025 contest. In the week-long online contest, viewers vote for the bear which appears to have gained the most weight over the summer.
(Source: Katmai National Park<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Before winter comes, the bears eat constantly. Brown bears eat lots of different foods, including berries and roots. <\/p>\n

But the bears know that at this time of year, lots of food can be found in the area\u2019s rivers. That\u2019s because in the summer, sockeye salmon are swimming upstream so they can lay eggs in the same places where they were born.<\/p>\n

The contest is focused on bears who spend most of the summer feeding in the Brooks River. One hot spot is Brooks Falls, where the salmon have to jump up a 6 foot (1.8 meter) waterfall to continue upstream.<\/p>\n

\"BrownIn the summer, sockeye salmon are swimming upstream so they can lay eggs in the same places where they were born. One hot spot on the Brooks River is Brooks Falls, where the salmon have to jump up a 6 foot (1.8 meter) waterfall to continue upstream (above).
(Source: Joseph C Boone [CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>], via Wikimedia Commons<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

The park has \u201cbear cams\u201d which allow online viewers to watch the 12 competing bears eat \u2013 and grow.<\/p>\n

Normally, brown bears weigh between 600 and 900 pounds (272 and 408 kilograms). But over the summer, they can put on as much as four pounds (1.8 kilograms) a day. By the end of the summer, male bears often weigh over 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms). Some past winners of Fat Bear Week have weighed as much as 1,400 pounds (635 kilograms).<\/p>\n

\"BeforeNormally, brown bears weigh between 600 and 900 pounds (272 and 408 kilograms). But by the end of the summer, male bears often weigh over 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms). Above, before and after pictures of 856, who came in second in Fat Bear Week 2025.
(Source: Katmai National Park<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

The online contest is just for viewers. But in real life, the bears are competing against each other, too. Putting on weight will help them survive. It will also help them in fights to get good fishing spots on the river.<\/p>\n

But this summer, there were plenty of salmon. Park rangers say as many as 200,000 salmon may have made their way up the Brooks River this year. That meant that the bears haven\u2019t had to fight much for food.<\/p>\n

\"BeforeThis year\u2019s big winner was a 1,200 pound (544 kilogram) bear called \u201cChunk\u201d. At the beginning of the summer (left), many people were worried about Chunk, since he had a broken jaw \u2013 probably from a fight. But somehow Chunk managed to keep eating and put on lots of weight (right).
(Source: Katmai National Park<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

During the contest, viewers are given a description of each bear. They\u2019re also shown \u201cbefore\u201d and \u201cafter\u201d pictures of the bear, so they can see how much weight the bears have put on since the beginning of the summer. Viewers vote between two bears at a time for the best \u201cfat bear\u201d. The winners are paired up against other bears until there\u2019s only one left.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s big winner was a 1,200 pound (544 kilogram) bear called \u201cChunk\u201d. At the beginning of the summer, many people were worried about Chunk, since he had a broken jaw \u2013 probably from a fight. There are no veterinarians for these bears. But somehow Chunk managed to keep eating and putting on weight.<\/p>\n

Chunk\u2019s ability to gain weight means more than just winning the contest \u2013 it\u2019s a strong sign that he\u2019ll be able to survive despite his broken jaw.<\/p>\n

Did You Know\u2026?
\nFat Bear Week 2025 is over, but the salmon are still heading upstream and the bears are still eating. If you\u2019re interested in seeing them, this page has lots of live videos on the Brooks River<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude15<\/p>\n

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