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FATTEST BEAR FOR FAT BEAR WEEK HAS BEEN CROWNED
128 Grazer takes the crown as fattest bear, here seen on September 14, 2023
F. Jimenez/NPA Photo
The crown for Katmai National Park & Preserve's esteemed Fat Bear Week contest goes to ... drumroll, please ... 128 Grazer! This fierce mama bear, known for her fearless confrontations with even the beefiest of adult male bears, has proudly waltzed away with the title this year. Grazer is a seasoned fisher, making the salmon-filled waters her gourmet dining spot since 2005. Going head-to-head with the bear named 32 Chunk in the finale, she stole the show with a whopping 108,321 votes, while Chunk was left swimming with his 23,134. Clearly, the public loved her and granted her the ultimate bear-y big win of the season.
Runner up Chunk shows his massive size on Sept 17, 2023
F. Jimenez/NPA Photo
Chunk, the second place winner in the Fat Bear Week finale, is a bear with a mysterious past and an ever-evolving personality. First popping onto the scene in 2007 as a "plump and independent" youngster of just 2.5 years, Chunk was once the bear who'd prefer playdates or sneak in under the radar for some post-feast salmon scraps. But this year saw a bolder Chunk, as he threw his weight around and won the best fishing spots and the juiciest salmon. This newfound assertiveness scored him a belly that practically dragged on the ground and a ticket to the championship round.
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