The annual Fat Bear Week, an event organized by Explore.org and Katmai National Park in Alaska, has come to a close with the crowning of its 2025 champion. Following a record-breaking week of voting, bear number 32 Chunk emerged as the winner, having gained significant weight in preparation for the upcoming winter hibernation.

Fat Bear Week, which began in 2014, allows voters to track the weight gain of Alaska brown bears as they feed on salmon in the lead-up to hibernation. The event features a bracket-style competition, where voters choose their favorite bear based on its transformation from the start to the end of the season. This year’s competition, which took place between September 23-30, drew 1.7 million votes, surpassing the previous record of 1.3 million set in 2023.

The competition featured eight bears, including 128 Grazer, a female bear who had won the event for two consecutive years. However, she was knocked out in the semi-final round by bear 856. Bear 32 Chunk, who had suffered a broken jaw earlier in the season, made a remarkable recovery to claim the top spot. His win marks his first Fat Bear Week title, placing him among the pantheon of winners, including 480 Otis, who has won the competition four times.

The success of this year’s event highlights the growing interest in Fat Bear Week, with voters from around the world participating in the competition. The event not only promotes awareness of the brown bears at Katmai National Park but also provides an opportunity for people to learn about the importance of hibernation and the challenges faced by these animals in the wild. As the bears prepare for hibernation, which typically takes place between October and December, their fans will be waiting to see how they fare in the coming year. For 32 Chunk, his first Fat Bear Week title will be a notable achievement as he heads into hibernation, and his supporters will be eager to see him defend his title in the future.