Bear 32 'Chunk' Triumphs in 2025 Fat Bear Week Despite Injury

Bear 32, known as "Chunk," has been crowned the 2025 Fat Bear Week champion at Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve. Despite suffering a broken jaw earlier in the season, Chunk secured 96,350 votes, surpassing his final competitor, Bear 856, who received 63,725 votes.

Fat Bear Week is an annual event celebrating the park's brown bears as they prepare for hibernation by accumulating substantial fat reserves. The competition involves a bracket-style tournament where the public votes for the bear that best exemplifies success in gaining weight.

Chunk's victory is particularly noteworthy given his injury, which likely resulted from a fight with another male bear during mating season. Despite this setback, he adapted his fishing techniques and continued to gain weight, demonstrating remarkable resilience.

This year's competition attracted over 1.5 million votes, highlighting the event's growing popularity and the public's interest in the health and survival of these bears.