Chunk, the heavyweight bear with a broken jaw, finally wins Fat Bear Week
Half-a-ton bear nursing serious injury crowned champion
- Chunk, officially known as Bear 32, secured his first victory in the annual Fat Bear Week contest after three consecutive years of finishing in second place.
- The online competition invites the public to vote for their favourite brown bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, observing their weight gain for winter hibernation.
- Estimated at 1,200 pounds despite a distinctive broken jaw, Chunk triumphed over Bear 856 in the final bracket of the popular tournament.
- This year's contest featured a record abundance of fall salmon in the Brooks River, which reduced conflict among bears and allowed humans to fish alongside them.
- Attracting over 1.5 million votes, Fat Bear Week aims to educate the public about the crucial importance of bears fattening up for their lean winter hibernation period.