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Fat Bear Week is officially back to save 2020 — here are this year's chunky competitorshttps://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/fat-bear-week-is-officially-back-to-save-2020-x2014-here-are-this-yearaposs-chunky-competitors/slidelist/78417497.cms2020-10-01T04:38:35+05:30

Fat Bear Week is officially back to save 2020 — here are this year's chunky competitors

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Gabbi ShawOct 1, 2020, 04:38 IST

Fat Bear Week is officially back to save 2020 — here are this year's chunky competitors — 812, one of this year's fat bears.T. Carmack/NPS Photos ; N. Boak/NPS Photos
On September 30, it officially became Fat Bear Season.
Every year, Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska pits its bears against each other to determine who is the fattest bear.
You can vote for your favorites every day until October 6, when a winner is declared.
The leaves are changing, pumpkin spice is everywhere — it's fall. That can only mean one thing: Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park and Preserve is back.
Every year, the Alaskan park creates a competition that pits its chunkiest bears against each other to celebrate their success at gaining weight for the winter. No fat-shaming allowed. In fact, we're celebrating how many pound these big boys have put on this summer.
For the next three days, more bears will be added until there are 12 competitors in all. The bears will be whittled down until there is just one Fat Bear Champion. They will be crowned on October 6.
Keep scrolling to meet this year's bears and follow along with the competition.

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It's fall, which can only mean one thing: It's Fat Bear Week at Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve. Here's last year's winner, 435 Holly.

It's fall, which can only mean one thing: It's Fat Bear Week at Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve. Here's last year's winner, 435 Holly. — Last year's winner. Facebook/ Katami National Park & Preserve
Every year, Katmai National Park celebrates just how thick its grizzly bears have gotten in preparation for hibernation. The park creates a bracket to determine the fattest bear of the year.
Each day, between September 30 and October 6, fans decide which of two bears is the fattest. They can vote on the park's website. Only the winning bears from each day will continue in the competition.

Here's this year's bracket.

Here's this year's bracket. — This year's bracket. Katmai National Park & Preserve/Facebook
As you can see, the 2019 reigning champ, Holly, is back again.
The park has so far released information and images about four of the competitors. More bears will be added over the next three days until there are 12 competitors in all.

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One of the first contenders is 151 Walker, who definitely has some junk in his trunk. These photos show how much weight he's gained in just a few months.

One of the first contenders is 151 Walker, who definitely has some junk in his trunk. These photos show how much weight he's gained in just a few months. — 151 Walker in June and September. Katmai National Park & Preserve/Katmai Conservancy
The Katmai page explained that Walker sometimes gets picked out of the prime fishing spot by his competitor in this round, 856.

He's up against 856, who Katmai called a "dominant doge."

He's up against 856, who Katmai called a "dominant doge." — 856 in June and September. NPS Photos
According to Katmai, 856 uses "his overbearing obesity" to stake out prime spots for fishing. Will he push out the competition yet again? Only time will tell.
Fans can choose who they think is fatter — 151 or 856 — on September 30. Only one will continue in the competition.

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The other match-up on September 30 starts with the hefty 402.

The other match-up on September 30 starts with the hefty 402. — 402 in June and September. N. Boak/NPS Photos; L. Lewis/NPS Photos
402 is definitely a mama bear, but this year she stayed single. As the song goes, girls just wanna have fun ... and gain upwards of 100 pounds for winter.

Her opponent is her son, 812, an undeniable chonk of a bear.

Her opponent is her son, 812, an undeniable chonk of a bear. — 812 in June and September. T. Carmack/NPS Photos ; N. Boak/NPS Photos
812 did not come to play. He may very well make it all the way.
You can select who you think is the fattest on the park's website — check back tomorrow to see who's advancing in the competition, and to see the rest of the chubby competition.
Read more:
Meet the winner of this 2019's Fat Bear Week in Alaska — and the competitors she beat
It's officially Fat Bear Week at an Alaskan national park — and the 2018 winner has been crowned
A black bear named Bruno traveled hundreds miles in search of a mate before he 'cornered himself' between highways and had to be rescued
A video shows a Wisconsin family rescuing a swimming bear that had a cheese ball jug stuck on its head

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