- Voting is open for the 12th annual Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park in Alaska , running through September 29.
- Defending champion Chunk 32, a 1,200-pound brown bear, has returned to compete despite suffering severe jaw injuries last year.
- The competition celebrates how brown bears prepare for winter hibernation by eating up to 200,000 calories daily to build up vital fat reserves.
- Founded in 2014 by a former park ranger, the contest has grown into a major international event that drew more than 1.7 million votes last year.
- The single-elimination tournament highlights the health and resilience of the estimated 2,200 brown bears living in Katmai National Park.
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