The winner of this year’s Fat Bear Week is a massive beast named 747.
The Fat Bear Week contest has made 2020 a little more bearable by allowing people from around the world to vote online for their favorite chunky brown bear in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve. The winner, nicknamed 747, was crowned the champion on Tuesday evening.
“This year he really packed on the pounds, looking like he was fat enough to hibernate in July and yet continuing to eat until his belly seemed to drag along the ground by late September,” the park said about 747’s victory.
The Interior Department tweeted out a photo of 747 after his thrilling win and crowned him the “King of #Chonk.”
And the winner of #FatBearWeek is 747! ?? The King of #Chonk! Thanks to everyone who voted & took a moment to learn about these fascinating animals @KatmaiNPS #Alaska pic.twitter.com/JneIDuv4GW
— US Department of the Interior (@Interior) October 7, 2020
This is 747’s first win, although he has been a runner-up in past years, according to the Anchorage Daily News. Some park employees think he might be the biggest bear they’ve ever seen.
The contest begins with a dozen of the plumpest bears Katmai has to offer, and they are then placed on March Madness-like brackets. The fat animals, which gorge this time of year in order to build up fat for hibernation, are then voted on.
Match 11: Lardaceous Leviathan Levels Chunky Challenger
The votes are in! You’ve crowned the Earl of Avoirdupois, bear 747, the 2020 Fat Bear Week Champion. No longer the runner-up, 747 fulfills the fate of the fat and fabulous as he heads off to hibernation.#FatBearWeek pic.twitter.com/NpyguJiZb4
— Katmai National Park (@KatmaiNPS) October 7, 2020
Sen. Lisa Murkowski got in on the fun. Prior to the competition, she tweeted out some photos of brown bears in Katmai “prepping for the competition” by guzzling some fish, and she later revealed that she was rooting for Chunk, the runner-up in the competition.
“I was so close in the #FatBearWeek competition — made it to the finals with my picks. Congratulations to 747. Next year may be the year for my pick, Chunk. #Alaska,” the Alaska Republican tweeted.
I was so close in the #FatBearWeek competition —made it to the finals with my picks. Congratulations to 747. Next year may be the year for my pick, Chunk. #Alaska https://t.co/1QgZol8lDm
— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) October 7, 2020
Every now and then we could all use a little lighthearted fun. In honor of #FatBearWeek, an annual tournament celebrating the bears in @KatmaiNPS, here are a few pictures from my recent visit to Katmai “prepping for the competition” pic.twitter.com/PnPTmlz4Q7
— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) October 1, 2020
