The grizzly winner of Fat Bear Week has been crowned- and it’s his first win after being runner-up for the past three years.
Weighing at an estimated 1,200lb with a broken jaw, Chunk finally brought the first place win home on Tuesday.
The annual contest, launched in 2014, allows viewers to watch 12 bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve fish at Brook Falls, beefing up for hibernation.
Viewers follow the bears on a livestream then vote in a March Madness–style bracket to decide which one best represents fatness and success.
While the contest organizers do not weigh the bears for their own safety, Chunk and others have had their density scanned to gather their weight estimates in the past using light detection and ranging (LIDAR) KTLA reported.
LIDAR uses laser technology used to determine ranges and distances.
Chunk came in as an underdog at the start of the competition but finished on top despite his broken jaw.
His broken jaw was likely from a brutal fight, according to Mike Fitz, resident naturalist at Explore.org, a media organization that helps organize the contest.
But the grizzly persevered through his injury by learning to eat salmon differently making him one of the ‘biggest baddest bears at Brooks rivers’.
Chunk, formally known as Bear 32, finally brought the first place win home
The annual Fat Bear Week contest allows viewers to watch 12 bears in Alaska ’s Katmai National Park and Preserve and vote for their favorite
Viewers follow the bears on a livestream then vote in a March Madness–style bracket to decide which one best represents fatness and success
The contest gained the most votes in history – over 1.5 million- and Chunk, also known as Bear 32, beat Bear 856 in the final round.
To be considered for the contest, rangers capture before-and-after pictures of the bears throughout the summer, to show how much weight these beasts gained.
Adult males usually weigh 700 to 900 pounds by late summer, with some topping 1,200lbs.
Females are smaller, about one-third to one-half the size of males.
Last year’s winner, Grazer, was a mother bear who successfully defended her title for two years straight.
She received over 71,000 votes, more than double the votes of Chunk’s.
2024’s live stream captured the moment Grazer’s cub slipped over a waterfall, nearing into Chunk’s fishing spot.
Grazer battled Chunk, but the cub shortly died after. Fans voted Grazer as the victorious fat bear after the dramatic fight.
