The annual celebration of ursine corpulence known as Fat Bear Week has officially begun. Bring on the bears.
Organizers of the bracket-style tournament revealed the 16 brown bears at Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve who will vie for the title of fattest — or just favorite — on Friday afternoon. Fans can vote from Tuesday through Sept. 29, with a winner crowned the final day.
“So many different things can make a bear worthy of the vote,” said Sarah Bruce, a Katmai park ranger, in a video announcing the contestants. “It’s very subjective voting here during Fat Bear Week.”
Last year’s champ, officially dubbed 32 but nicknamed “Chunk,” is back to defend his title. He faces off against past heavyweights including 151 “Walker,” 164 “Bucky” and 901 while they gorge on salmon, transforming into even bigger bears as they prepare to hibernate.
In a video introduction, park rangers and educators provided dramatic backstories of loss and resilience for the participants. They described one as a “compact little powerhouse,” another as “very rotund” and a third as “becoming an icon in the bear cam community.”
The three participants from the national park and nature cam network Explore.org wished each other a happy Fat Bear Week as they signed off.
Enthusiasts from around the world participate in the conservation-minded contest, now in its 12th year, and watch the bear antics on one of several cameras. More than 1.7 million votes were registered in 2025.
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