Brown Bear Heavyweight Chunk Wins Fat Bear Week 2025 Despite Injury

Chunk, a massive brown bear from Alaska’s Katmai National Park, just clawed his way to victory in Fat Bear Week 2025. Weighing over 1,100 pounds, this heavyweight won not only because of his size, but because of his story. Chunk overcame a broken jaw earlier this year to claim the global crown as the fattest, most hibernation-ready bear of them all.

What Is Fat Bear Week?

Fat Bear Week is part science lesson, part wildlife reality show, and part internet sensation. The contest, which began in 2014 with just 1,700 votes, now attracts participants from more than 100 countries. Fans log on to explore.org livestreams to watch the bears of Katmai National Park battle it out, one salmon at a time, and then vote for their favorites in a March Madness-style bracket.

The rules are simple. The bear that best “exemplifies fatness and success” as they prepare for winter hibernation gets crowned champion.

Chunk’s Tough Road to the Title