The annual competitors, held by Katmai Nationwide Park in Alaska, crowns the fattest bear within the state’s Brook River.
Created six years in the past, the competitors options the realm’s largest bears competing towards one another in a full on event — bracket and all.
For bears, gaining weight earlier than hibernation is de facto necessary for his or her well being.
“There is no such thing as a disgrace in profitable this contest as massive quantities of physique fats in brown bears is indicative of excellent well being and powerful probabilities of survival,” the Nationwide Park Service (NPS) stated in a information launch final yr.
Brown bears in Alaska are the biggest on the earth and may weigh between 600 and 900 kilos. They’re often twice as heavy earlier than hibernation as they are going to be come spring.
“Throughout winter hibernation, which may final for as much as half of the yr of their den, a bear might lose as much as one third of its physique mass. In preparation, the bears are getting into hyperphagia this time of yr, a state wherein they eat practically continuous,” NPS stated.
Brown bears and eat as much as 90 kilos of meals every day, together with different smaller mammals, salmon, berries, flowers and herbs.