Fat Bear Week returns: meet the contenders and cast your vote

Fat Bear Week, a bracket-style competition at Katmai National Park in Alaska, kicks off with 16 brown bear contenders; voting runs Sept. 22–29 to crown the fattest bear, based on before/after photos from spring to fall. Last year’s champion was 32 Chunk, weighing over 1,200 pounds. The event originated as a ranger-led Facebook poll and has become a global online sensation, with donations to Katmai Conservancy’s Otis Fund, and live streams via explore.org encouraging support.