A bear named “Chunk” has claimed the title of victor in Fat Bear Week 2025, triumphing in a bracket-style competition that celebrates the weight gain of brown bears before hibernation.

Chunk, officially known as Bear 32, defeated runner-up Bear 856 in the final round, earning 96,350 votes to 63,725 from the public.

The week-long event, which ran from September 23 to 30, featured a total of eight brown bears and drew over 1.5 million votes from fans worldwide, highlighting the popularity of the unique wildlife contest.

Chunk faced additional challenges this year, having suffered a broken jaw at some point earlier in the year, with the belief that this injury occurred during mating season, possibly in a fight for a female.

“Despite his broken jaw, he remains one of the biggest, baddest bears at Brooks River,” said Mike Fitz, a naturalist for Explore.org, per the Associated Press.

 

Chunk managed to successfully gain the weight necessary for winter and prepare for the upcoming hibernation season despite this gruesome injury, impressing viewers and wildlife enthusiasts alike.

The bears’ weight gain is largely fueled by the abundant salmon present in Katmai National Park during the summer months. 

Wildlife biologists monitor the bears’ health and growth using trail cameras and remote observation points, providing valuable insights into their feeding habits and behavior.

Bear 856, the runner-up, was noted for a dramatic transformation during the competition, growing from a state of emaciation to a massive bear over the summer months.

Fat Bear Week, hosted annually by Explore.org and Katmai National Park, is designed to showcase the health and strength of Alaska’s brown bear population as they build fat reserves for winter. 

This competition combines wildlife observation with public engagement, encouraging fans to track and appreciate the bears’ growth and hibernation preparations.

Meanwhile, adding weight during the winter has also been a consistent trend for those across the U.S. in recent years, with Dr. Dina Peralta-Reich, director of New York Weight Wellness Medicine, saying it is “very common.”

“We see a lot of people normally gain weight during the holidays, and then, once January comes, they have New Year’s resolutions to work on losing it,” she added, per Yahoo.

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