Anchorage, Alaska – Bears and humans wait all year for the yearly Katmai Conservancy contest called “Fat Bear Week.” The bears prepare by eating in preparation for winter hibernation. The humans celebrate by voting on the “fattest, most successful bear”.

This year’s competition runs from September 23 to September 30.

Competition is intense. According to a press release from the conservancy, the 2024 contest received about 1.2 million votes from over 100 countries.

“Chunk's resilience, Grazer's skill, and Bucky's intelligence are only a few of the amazing stories

we followed at Brooks River this summer,” says explore.org ’s founder Charlie Annenberg. “The bears have grown as fat as I've ever seen them thanks to another exceptional salmon run. Go big or go home!”

Two contestants in

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