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National Park in Alaska celebrates 10th annual Fat Bear Week

Monday, 7 October 2024 07:00

By Stuart Bonell X @BonellStuart

Bear 903, also known as "Gully," is one of this year's Fat Bear Week semifinalists. (Photo: Explore.Org)

Voting for the contest is open until October 8

Alaska’s Katmai National Park is celebrating its tenth annual Fat Bear Week, but not without some drama.

One of the anticipated contestants of the online voting tournament, a female brown bear known as Bear 402, was killed in a fight with a male bear on Monday. The sudden death caused a delay in announcing this year’s 12 contestants.

Earlier in the season, former park ranger and founder of the contest said that four-time Fat Bear Week Champion, 480 Otis, had not been seen by park staff or webcam at all this summer. His absence has led park staff to speculate that the fan favourite may not be seen at Brooks Falls again.

Fat Bear Week celebrates 2200 brown bears at Katmai National Park in Alaska for their efforts in preparing for hibernation by comparing photos taken in early spring with photos of the same bears taken in September. 12 bears are selected for the quarterfinals, and conservation fans cast their votes on two match-ups every day until one fat bear is crowned champion.

Voting is open online at https://explore.org/fat-bear-week. This year’s champion will be crowned on October 8.

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