‘Bear Force One’ who weighs an estimated 1,400lbs is officially crowned the winner of Fat Bear Week

Fat Bear Week 2022 has been topped off by a sturdy bear named 747, now nicknamed Bear Force One.

The predator took the prank title for the second time, having previously been crowned the winner of Fat Bear Week in 2020.

The floppy-eared hulking giant weighs about 1,400 pounds and won by nearly 10 times as many votes as its next closest rival in Alaska’s annual conservation competition.

Bear Force One won more than 11,000 votes over female newcomer Bear 901.

Bear 901 ultimately got 56,876 votes, compared to the 747’s 68,105.

Bear 747’s willingness to appear in front of the camera was credited with his win. He gave fans countless opportunities to watch as he slurped salmon in preparation for hibernation.

He was reportedly found every day at Brooks Falls between late June and mid-September.

The feisty bear was known to be dominant, but Katmai National Park rangers said 747 was able to maintain its rank “by its size alone.”

“He’s a really big bear — the biggest I’ve ever seen in Brooks River,” Fat Bear Week creator and former forest ranger Mike Fitz told DailyMail.com on Wednesday. “To me he seems at least as big this year.”

“We don’t know exactly how big he is, but he’s a giant among bears … it could be a long time before we see another bear as big as him,” Fitz said on Tuesday’s livestream.

Bear Force One wasn’t alone in packing the pounds, 901 reportedly tripled in size, leaving rangers wondering if she’s about to become a mother.

But 747’s victory was not an easy one, as he nearly missed the final due to a false scandal.

Fan favorite and 2019 winner Holly originally had Bear 747 in their braces, but officials had to reverse the election results between her and 747, removing more than 7,000 fraudulent votes.

They declined to go into detail about the cheating scandal, but did reveal that it was caused by robot voters who cast multiple automatic votes for Holly.

After the problem was identified, game bosses added an extra layer of security.

The move saw Bear 747 reach the final and eventually the winner’s crown, after collecting 37,940 votes against Holly’s 30,430.

Otis – a four-time champion who won in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2021 – also moved easily in the ranks, despite having a known fan base to give him a boost. He lost to 901 by 23,000 votes.

However, Fitz thought that Otis’ transformation that wasn’t quite as dramatic this year would have made him lose the race.

“He has such a devoted fan base that I think when he’s in the league he has a chance to get pretty far, if not win,” Fitz said, according to the Washington Post. “But this year…I don’t think the physical transformation was as dramatic for him as last year.”

Fat Week Bears runs every October in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, attracting thousands of viewers.

The winner will not receive a prize.

The goal of the week is much more than just watching fat bears splash around and catch some salmon, but to draw attention to the conversation the park is working towards.

Bear 747 may have won, but its other competitors fought steeply…

The runner-up: Bear 901 may not have won, but she’s expecting cubs in the spring

Many were shocked to see that newcomer 901 — who entered as an adult for the first time — had tripled in size, leaving rangers wondering if they’ll see new cubs in the spring.

She needs enough body fat to implant her fertilized eggs in her uterus when she enters hibernation. Female bears experience delayed implantation, allowing her body to “unknowingly determine whether she is healthy enough to have offspring.”

Bear 901 was also known for “defending its fishing spots from other bears,” according to Explore.comwho leads the race.

Fan favorite Holly lost her final spot after officials took away 7,000 fraudulent votes

Holly was the champion in 2019 and looked like she was going to take the win, until she was hit by a false scandal.

Officials had to remove more than 7,000 votes from her, knocking her out of the final after losing to 747 after the adjustment.

Holly’s daughter 335 was also a contestant this year and one of the many litters she has had since she was identified in 2001.

She successfully cared for one of her limping offspring and even took in a lone yearling into her family. Even her last yearling 335 got porcupine quills in one of her front legs and Holly took care of her until she was completely healed.

She divorced 335 in the spring of this year.

Four-time champion Otis was unable to take a fifth win despite his massive fan base

Otis won in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2021, but he was unable to defend his title. The huge bear didn’t even make the final, much to the dismay of the fans.

Otis is known for his way of fishing – having salmon come to him – and it may have lost him the title.

Fitz said the bear hasn’t gotten nearly as big this year and that he could get him voted.

Also known by his serial number 480, he is now one of the older bears on Brooks River and has plenty of titles to show for his age and is starting to have dental problems. He is currently missing two teeth and the others are worn out.

However, according to Explore.com, he is an experienced and patient angler who chooses his fishing spots carefully and waits for the salmon to come to him. This strategy was used with great success when he ate 42 salmon in one sitting.

Chunk has long been a competitor, but has yet to claim the crown

32 Chunk was back again this year, but apparently was behind schedule.

“He kind of fell into the background of the bears this year,” Fitz told the Washington Post. “He didn’t seem to get involved in too much drama, although he has a lot of scars and wounds.”

That said, he has become more dominant in recent years and is willing to challenge others.

He has yet to take the title of fattest bear, but he certainly has a large fan base.

Bear 335 was a newcomer and Holly’s daughter

Bear 335 is a medium sized subadult with color changing coat. Her coat appears white-blonde in early summer before turning brown in late summer, Explore.com said.

She is Holly’s daughter and is a newcomer to the competition this year and is going to live on her own for the first time. According to the Washington Post, the bear is known for being playful and friendly.

“She has grown in both body size and mass in recent months and seems well positioned to enter hibernation in good health,” Explore.com says in her biography.

Bear 164 is known for his clever fishing tactics

Bear 164 is a smart one, inventing his own method to efficiently fish out the more experienced bears. It stands at the base of Brooks Falls, located in the park, near the deepest pool. Salmon comes “jumping through the air or falling from top to bottom,” giving it plenty of food.

“This is a place that no other bear — currently or in the recent past — has attempted to fish,” Explore.com said.

Walker was once a playing cub, but is now one of the most dominant in the park

Walker is described as ‘bulb-shaped’ with set ears and prominent dark eye rings.

Known as a ‘tolerant and playful bear’ in his early years, he loves to ‘fly’. As he’s gotten older, he’s become more assertive and is one of the most dominant bears in the league, according to Explore.com.

“He’s a really big guy and he’s willing to throw his weight around,” Fitz told the Post.

Bear 856 is the well-known ‘bully’ and is a ‘bold’ to look at

Bear 856 is known for being “quite sassy and assertive towards other bears” and has enough scars to prove it.

The young adult male has become one of the largest bears in the park after being one of the skinny bears for ten years, according to Explore.com.

He was once at the top of the food chain until this summer, when 747 drove him out.

He also has a bad reputation as a ‘bully’, according to Whatley.

Divo got her nickname as a cub because she dives into the riverbed

Divot got her nickname as a cub, because she dug small divots in the gravel of Brooks Rivers in search of rotten fish.

She is not shy when it comes to fending off other bears and has a noticeable scar around her neck. However, the origin of the scars was not over a piece of salmon, but rather a tricky situation with a tie wire that left a one-inch-deep scar.

Unlike other bears, Divot has no problem with humans and is often seen in areas where people congregate in the park, according to Explore.com.

Divo has also reportedly gained a surplus of weight this year and has difficulty maneuvering, according to the Post.

Grazer is known for being an experienced fisherman and for running away from large males

Grazer is an accomplished fisherwoman and is known for running away from large males, the Washington Post reported. Her children – known as the Grazerettes – also competed, but lost, in the Fat Bear Junior competition.

Fitz said it was “surprising” that she was still around her cubs, as she had previously separated from her children around this time.