In a twelvemonth that ’s understand the postponing of such noted events as the Olympics , Coachella , and the European Song Contest , there ’s been little to look forward to on the calendar . But there are some affair in life that wait for no pandemic and following promising news of anunprecedented salmon runin these unprecedented times , Fat Bear Week 2020was the endowment we all call for this year . It ’s been a riotous workweek of voting , with embonpoint bear pitted against each other to see who has piled on the most pounds in an online battle that saw people across the globe fight to crown their champion the winner . So , who was the roundest of them all ?
The Katmai National Park in Alaska is rest home to some of the planet ’s chunkiest bears ( check them out onbearcam ) , but as victor of Fat Bear Week , there can be only one : Congratulations , 747 !
The giant , and excellently named , 747 took down two bear to get to the final , where he come out on top against anticipate competition ( also aptly named ) Chunk , with 47,300 votes , becoming this year ’s champion . Much like his namesake airplane , 747 is a very large and broad - incarnate bear whose portfolio of photos is all the test copy you need to see why this desirable goliath took the 2020 title of respect .
While his triumph demonstrates that gestate 747 is one of the largest and heaviest bears on the Brooks River , this is in fact the first year he ’s won . He was first classified in 2004 and has spent the years that fall out bulking up , but it was n’t until his belly extended to the point of ostensibly drop behind along the ground in 2020 that the squad at theKatmai National Park and Preserve(KNPP ) recognized him as a serious contender for the crest .
This archived footage shows 747 being displaced from his favourite fishing spot by another of the KNPP ’s bear .
While there can be only one succeeder , after such a fruitful summertime season of banquet the entire12 - bear cast of Fat Bear Weekwill draw the benefit of their labour , as the parentage into winter Marche on . Their twisting and fat - lined fur coat will isolate , hydrate , and sustain these bears as they shelter in the snow for their tenacious winter torpidity . make out natural spring , after using up their generous fatty reserves they will come forth again , lighter in mind and consistence , and quick to take on another summer season of Salmon River snacking . As residents of the KNPP and Bristol Bay Alaska , a waste region that is house to more brown bears than people , the bears benefit year - on - twelvemonth from one of the largest and healthiest runs of sockeye salmon left on the planet .
Good oeuvre , 747 . We think you ’ve earned a forty winks .
