Every year before hibernation, Alaska’s Katmai National Park celebrates Fat Bear Week. As the name suggests, the goal of the tournament is to choose the stockiest plantigrade in the reserve.
The contest that has been held since 2014 began as a way to celebrate how fat and healthy the bears in the park are. Currently, it has become a fever on social networks, where Internet users can vote for the candidate who seems plumper.
After several rounds of elimination, he has been finally declared the fat champion among the 12 opponents. The winner of the 2020 edition is bear number 747, named Earl of Avoirdupois.
Match 11: Lardaceous Leviathan Levels Chunky Challenger
The votes are in! You’ve crowned the Earl of Avoirdupois, bear 747, the 2020 Fat Bear Week Champion. No longer the runner-up, 747 fulfills the fate of the fat and fabulous as he heads off to hibernation.#FatBearWeek pic.twitter.com/NpyguJiZb4
— Katmai National Park (@KatmaiNPS) October 7, 2020
“747 would like to thank the salmon for such high concentrations of fat, the clean cool Brooks River water for being a fabulous host, and all the bears it pulled out of the way to gain access to the best fishing spot ever.” wrote the park by sharing a snapshot of the burly winner.
Adult male Katmai bears – one of Alaska’s best-known places to watch these animals – typically weigh between about 270 and 400 kilograms, but can easily exceed 500 kg in the fall. This year’s champion, one of the largest bears in the park, is estimated to weigh more than 635 kg.
