Fierce mama bear wins Fat Bear Week after piling on the pounds before hibernation
A giant mother bear chomped down hundreds of pounds of salmon to become Fat Bear Week champion.
The enormous Alaskan animal, also known as 128 Grazer, has been praised for piling on the pounds in the run-up to hibernation.
Fat Bear Week is an annual competition that celebrates bears putting on weight to survive a long hibernation season.
Over the years, the competition has seen record-breaking salmon runs, with more than 60 million fish migrating at one point, the Department of Home Affairs reports.
This year, 128 Grazer broke past her rivals at every point in the tournament, with ranger Felicia Jimenez noting, ‘She put in the work.’
128 Grazer (pictured) was praised for ‘putting in the work’ by piling on the pounds in the run-up to hibernation season
(A side-by-side comparison of 128 Grazer) The bear prevailed on every point in the Fat Bear Week contest, winning head-to-head against enormous beast – 32 Chunk, with 108,321 votes against 23 134
During the knockout tournament revealadded the Katmai National Park ranger: ‘She was pretty dapper in the early summer, but now she’s big.’
The female bear, noted for her large blonde ears, was among the favorites to win at the start of the competition.
The skilled fisherman, has been admired for her unrecognizable transformation, from a slender mammal to a no-nonsense hunter.
The dominant animal came out on top in the polls, defeating her competition in every round.
She raced ahead of fellow bears, 747 and Holy to go head-to-head with the colossal beast 32 Chunk.
Once again, the defending mom emerged victorious with her first Fat Bear Week victory, with 108,321 votes to 23,134.
The furry animal not only represented her husband in the ballots, but also in her Brooks River habitat.
As for the protective mother bear, the Katmai National Park said: ‘For example, a large grown man, 151 Walker, frequently avoided her advances.
“Grazer’s combination of skill and toughness makes her one of Brooks River’s most formidable, successful and adaptable bears.”
Katmai National Park, known for her no-nonsense attitude, said other bears remembered her dominant and protective reputation, even though she was an empty nester this year
The mother bear used to raise two sets of cubs, but this year she only took care of herself.
Jimenez added: ‘She didn’t have to worry about providing for anyone but herself, so she really made a big profit.’
Grazer has a formidable reputation for being a tenacious mother, ready to pounce on any male bear that poses a threat to her babies.
However, despite being a lone wolf this season, her dominant reputation is still etched in the memory of many other bears, according to Katmai National Park.
The empty nester has also been praised for her ability to look ahead to the future, catching large numbers of salmon en masse, often fishing late into the night.
The tournament in celebration of bears saw huge interest during this year’s competition, with 1.4 million people placing their votes.
Two years earlier, almost less than half of this year’s votes were cast in the tournament, with only 800,000 placed.