Resilient Chunk Crowned Fat Bear Week 2025 Champion After Overcoming Jaw Injury
Resilient Chunk Crowned Fat Bear Week 2025 Champion After Overcoming Jaw Injury
Brown bear heavyweight Chunk has been declared the winner of Fat Bear Week 2025, captivating a global audience with his remarkable resilience. The massive bear, weighing over 500kg (78st 8lb), triumphed despite suffering a broken jaw earlier this year.
Park rangers at Alaska’s Katmai National Park, home to some of the world’s largest brown bears, praised Chunk’s determination. Ranger Sarah Bruce noted, “Nothing was going to stop him. He’s moving forwards no matter what’s in his way,” while Naomi Boak added, “He reminded us how resilient bears are and how they have the ability to recover from injury and hardship.” Chunk’s injury, sustained in June, is suspected to be from a fight during mating season, yet he successfully adapted his fishing technique to prepare for winter hibernation.
The competition, which saw Chunk receive the most votes among 12 contenders, drew fans from over 100 countries. Voters followed the action via live web streams from Katmai’s Brooks River, where bears feast on salmon. One voter, Amy Hall, shared on an explore.org livestream, “Chunk and I both went through some stuff this summer… and we both have learned to adapt and heal. Thank you, Chunk, for being an inspiration.”
Fat Bear Week celebrates the bears that best exemplify fatness and success in preparing for their winter slumber. Chunk, a formidable competitor, packed on significant weight from July to September, easily surpassing the average adult male brown bear’s mid-summer weight of 408kg. He clinched the title by over 30,000 votes, beating his “real-life rival” 856.
What began as a one-day event in 2014 with 1,700 votes has evolved into a global phenomenon, educating and entertaining millions about the incredible journey of these magnificent animals.
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