Chunk Wins First Title in Fat Bear Week

Chunk, a large brown bear with a broken jaw, secured his first victory in the annual Fat Bear Week contest, after finishing second in previous years. Known officially as Bear 32, Chunk outperformed Bear 856 in the final round, gaining the most votes from over 1.5 million fans watching online.

This popular competition in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve involves tracking 12 bears on live webcams, with viewers voting in a week-long tournament style bracket. The bears do not get weighed during the contest for safety reasons; instead, their weight estimates, around 1,200 pounds for Chunk, are derived using laser technology like LIDAR.

Despite his injury, Chunk remains a dominant presence at Brooks River, likely having hurt his jaw in a fight with another bear. The contest coincides with a record salmon run, with cervical estimates of about 200,000 salmon swimming up the river, which has less competition among bears for prime fishing spots this year.

Photographs show mature bears at their lean summer weight and their well-fed, fattened states by fall. Fans select their favorite based on appearance or story, as actual weighing is considered too risky. Previously, live cameras captured dramatic moments, such as a fight between Chunk and Grazer’s cub, which ultimately resulted in the bear cub’s death, influencing previous vote outcomes.

Record Salmon Abundance

The recent salmon abundance has reduced conflict in the river, allowing bears to fish more freely, with even some human anglers enjoying the opportunity. In one scene, visitors calmly cast lines as bears swim nearby, highlighting the harmony in this extraordinary natural setting.

The Fat Bear Week event, initiated in 2014, aims to educate the public about brown bears’ summer feeding habits — catching salmon to store up fat for Alaska’s harsh winters.