Animal Competition: “Fat Bear” Elections: “Jumbo Jet” and “Chunk” in the running

Animal competition
“Fat Bear” elections: “Jumbo Jet” and “Chunk” in the running

Bear 747 is nicknamed because of its size "Jumbo jet". Photo: E. Johnston/National Park Service via AP/dpa

Because of its bulk, Bear 747 is nicknamed the “Jumbo Jet”. photo

© E. Johnston/National Park Service via AP/dpa

In the “Fat Bear” election in Alaska, the fattest bears have the best chance of winning. Can brown bear Grazer defend her title this year against massive males?

The candidates for this year’s “Fat Bear” elections have been determined: six females and six males will take part in the competition in Katmai National Park (US state Alaska) into the race. Last year’s voracious winner, brown bear Grazer, is back and could defend her title. But when it comes to choosing the fattest furry animal, the competition is literally huge.

Massive men in the race

One of the most impressive male candidates is 32 Chunk (“Klotz” in German), with an estimated body weight of 550 kilograms and a noticeable scar on his snout. The twenty-year-old bear with the massive rear has been in the race several times, but has not yet made it to first place.

The mighty bear 747, nicknamed Jumbo Jet, also made a big splash when it came to eating salmon this summer. He last won the competition in 2022. In addition to these two veterans, the Rangers also nominated eight-year-old Bear No. 903, nicknamed “Gully.” He owes this to his preference for eating seagulls as well as salmon.

Young animals also get involved

Brown Bear 909 was noted as a good angler in the rapids of the Brooks River this year. It must run in the family – her mother Beadnose was crowned champion in 2018. 909’s offspring, the almost four-year-old bear 909 Junior, also made it into the selection. Last week she won the title in the “Fat Bear Junior” competition with four chubby young animals, and now she can also take part in the adults.

For the tenth year, the park in southwest Alaska is hosting “Fat Bear Week.” Bears are presented for voting every day during the ongoing “Fat Bear Week” on the online platform “Explore.org”. After six rounds, only two of the original twelve competitors face each other in the final. The winner will be announced on “Fat Bear” Tuesday (October 8). Almost 1.4 million jurors from all over the world cast their votes in the competition last year.

Webcams provide insight into the bears’ lives

“The bears have no idea this is happening,” quipped naturalist Mike Fitz when introducing the candidates. There is no reward for them. Bear fans can watch the candidates catching salmon on several webcams. It’s not just the estimated final weight that makes the difference. Other factors such as feeding behavior, temperament and fishing skills also weigh heavily.

Before and after photos show how the skinny fur-bearing animals after hibernation gain weight over the summer. With these fat reserves they can survive the months of hibernation without eating.

With the curious competition, Katmai Park wants to provide information about the ecosystem and habitat of the more than 2,000 brown bears in the region and draw attention to dangers, such as those caused by climate change.

dpa

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