Fat Bear Week is an annual battle of bulk held in Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve. The competition rewards the animal's pre-winter-hibernation gains.
The winner for the fattest bear of the year is 480 Otis. The bear is a three-time champion that is neither the biggest nor the youngest in the previous competitions.
Over the summer, the bears of Katmai are skinny. Before the winter comes, they fill themselves with salmon along Brooks River. The fatter they grow, the more fat stores they can have for hibernation. Brown bears can gain up to four pounds of weight a day.
It's beautiful that Katmai is making the event a joyous occasion while taking care of the animals.
Image: NPS Photos/ C Spencer
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Image: NPS