PREVIEW

This video shows: Last year's runner-up, Chunk.

Alaska’s famous Fat Bear Week, one of the most beloved events in wildlife conservation, is marking its 10th anniversary this year during the latest contest.


Running from 2 to 8 October 2024, the beloved competition asks members of the public to vote for the bear that has put on the most weight over the summer.


In collaboration with Katmai National Park, the Katmai Conservancy, and explore.org, it showcases the extraordinary transformation of brown bears at Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska, as they prepare for hibernation.
Visitors to the Fat Bear Week website can explore the "Meet the Bears" section to compare early and late summer photos and learn more about each bear’s history.

At the end of each day, the bear with the most votes progresses to the next round, with the grand finale crowning the Fat Bear Week champion on Tuesday, 8 October.

Grazer, the 2023 champion, is now a proud mother, raising her first cub. If she retains her title this year, she will make history as the first mother bear to win the competition. Her cub is also competing for a junior prize.

Meanwhile, last year’s runner-up, Chunk, remains the most dominant bear at Brooks Falls but has yet to claim the Fat Bear crown. Both Grazer and Chunk are fierce competitors in the wild and in this year’s tournament.

Since its inception in 2014, Fat Bear Week has captured the imagination of wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers across the globe. What began as a one-day event attracting 1,700 votes has evolved into a global phenomenon, with nearly 1.4 million votes cast from over 100 countries in 2023.

Fat Bear Week is made possible through the support of Explore.org, a philanthropic organisation that provides live-streaming webcams of the brown bears fishing for salmon at Brooks River. This initiative is also backed by The Katmai Conservancy, a non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and wildlife of Katmai National Park. Together, they bring the extraordinary lives of these bears to audiences worldwide.

"Fat Bear Week transcends political polarisation. It is an election in which every candidate is fit for office," says Explore.org founder Charlie Annenberg. "The bears have demonstrated their credibility through hard work, skill, and the growth of their waistlines. Each has the same goal—to survive winter hibernation. They are all deserving of our respect and admiration."

In addition to voting, supporters can contribute to Katmai’s brown bears and salmon by donating to the Katmai Conservancy’s Otis Fund. All donations made between 2 and 13 October 2024 will be matched by Explore.org. Throughout the week, there will also be live events hosted by park rangers and experts, and fans can show their support on social media using the hashtag #FatBearWeek.

Fat Bear Week not only celebrates the incredible physical transformations of these iconic animals but also serves as a vital platform for educating the public on the importance of preserving their habitat. Katmai National Park and the surrounding Bristol Bay area are home to more brown bears than people, and they boast the largest, healthiest sockeye salmon runs on the planet. Each vote helps raise awareness about conservation efforts and the challenges faced by wildlife in an ever-changing world.