A brown bear catches a salmon at Brooks Falls in Katmai Nationwide Park in Alaska. Tahitia Hicks, discover.org through Related Press
On the Brooks River, in Katmai Nationwide Park, stay exemplary brown bears who earn their stardom by plumping up for hibernation. This week is Fats Bear Week, and also you get to vote on which chunky competitor is your favourite.
What's Fats Bear Week?
Every year, The Nationwide Park Service places collectively a bracket of the fattest bears in Katmai Nationwide Park, and the crowds get to determine who's the favourite. Out of the 12 bears this yr, there's a mixture of returning favorites and rookies.
Deciding on the opponents is a severe job. In keeping with the The Washington Submit, the choice course of was so tough this yr they virtually determined to broaden the variety of opponents.
“I do know that a few of the selections we made about who’s in and who isn’t are certain to be controversial,” stated Lian Regulation, a visible data specialist at Katmai.
Fats Bear Week is greater than only a enjoyable competitors — it raises consciousness for conservation efforts being made in locations like Katmai. The Nationwide Park Service calls it “a celebration of success and survival.”
How does Fats Bear Week work?
This yr’s Fats Bear Week begins Oct. 5 and goes till Oct. 11. All through the week, digital individuals can be taught concerning the histories of every bear and the ecosystem in Katmai.
Followers get to see the bears earlier than and after as they go from slender to meaty. Earlier than voting, individuals are inspired to pick out which bear finest demonstrates Fats Bear Week. Additionally it is necessary to take every bear’s historical past and progress into consideration earlier than making a range.
Fats Bear Week is a single-elimination event. Individuals can decide who's “fattest of the fats” between every matchup to assist decide who will survive one other spherical. On Fats Bear Tuesday, Oct. 11, the ultimate bear will likely be topped king or queen of Fats Bear Week 2022.
How do you vote?
To vote, go to Katmai’s web site. Voting runs daily between 10 a.m. and seven p.m. MDT.