Chunk Crowned Fat Bear Week Champion with Over 96,000 Votes, Contest's Origins Highlighted
Chunk, a 1,200-pound brown bear, won Fat Bear Week 2025 with 96,350 votes, overcoming a broken jaw. The popular contest, created by Mike Fitz in 2014, celebrates Katmai National Park's bears.
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Overview
- Chunk, also known as Bear 32, a 1,200-pound brown bear, secured victory in Alaska's 2025 Fat Bear Week contest, marking a significant achievement after two years as a runner-up.
- Chunk won decisively with 96,350 votes, surpassing Bear 856 by over 30,000 votes, despite returning to Brooks River with a broken jaw, possibly from a fight.
- Fat Bear Week is an annual celebration at Katmai National Park, honoring the bears of Brooks River as they bulk up on salmon in preparation for their winter hibernation.
- Former ranger Mike Fitz created the Fat Bear Week contest in 2014, which has since grown significantly in popularity and spotlights the vital work of rangers at Katmai National Park.
- An abundance of salmon in the Brooks River contributed to the bears' health and potentially decreased conflict, with Chunk's survival and victory celebrated by fans.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story as a heartwarming tale of triumph over adversity, celebrating Chunk's resilience and inspirational journey. They use evocative language and highlight quotes that emphasize his struggle and eventual victory, creating an engaging narrative around the popular Fat Bear Week competition. The coverage focuses on the emotional connection and dramatic elements of the event.
"Chunk's victory in Fat Bear Week showcases his remarkable resilience and ability to adapt despite facing significant challenges."
BBC News"Chunk, a towering brown bear with a broken jaw, swept the competition Tuesday in the popular Fat Bear Week contest — his first win after narrowly finishing in second place three previous years."
ABC News"Chunk used his determination and adaptability to persevere through injury."
USA TODAY"Chunk, a towering brown bear with a broken jaw, swept the competition Tuesday in the popular Fat Bear Week contest — his first win after narrowly finishing in second place three previous years."
Associated Press"Chunk used his determination and adaptability to persevere through injury."
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FAQ
Fat Bear Week is an annual contest held at Katmai National Park that celebrates the bears of Brooks River as they gain weight on salmon to prepare for winter hibernation. It highlights the bears' health and the park's natural ecosystem.
Fat Bear Week was created by former park ranger Mike Fitz in 2014. Since then, it has grown significantly in popularity, showcasing the bears and drawing attention to the important conservation work at Katmai National Park.
Chunk, the 1,200-pound brown bear who won Fat Bear Week 2025, returned to Brooks River with a broken jaw, likely from a fight, yet still managed to win decisively with over 96,000 votes.
An abundance of salmon in Brooks River improves the bears' health by providing ample food for fattening before hibernation and may reduce conflicts among bears, contributing to their survival and well-being.
The public can participate by voting for their favorite bears through online platforms such as explore.org, viewing webcams of the bears at Brooks River, and engaging with educational resources provided by Katmai National Park.
History
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