In the past few weeks, the online community has been honoring Fat Bear Week, a cherished annual celebration. This year’s champion, named after an unprecedented amount of votes, is 32 Chunk.

Fat Bear Week, coordinated by Explore.org and Katmai National Park in Alaska, has been a longstanding event since 2014. Throughout this occasion, individuals observe as Alaska’s brown bears indulge in salmon to gear up for hibernation. Bears are captured in photos at both the beginning and the end of the season, and enthusiasts cast their votes for the most impressive transformation.

32 Chunk triumphed this year, having recovered from a broken jaw without any veterinary assistance. He achieved an extraordinary recovery, becoming one of the largest bears when the voting commenced.

The contest, taking place from Sept. 23-30, included eight bears in a bracket-style format. Among them was 128 Grazer, a female bear known for her two-year winning streak, who was eliminated in the semi-finals by 856, whose transformation was remarkable. 128 Grazer’s cub, 128 Jr, also progressed beyond the initial round but was defeated in the quarterfinals.

This victory marks 32 Chunk’s inaugural win, earning him a spot among former Fat Bear Week titleholders. He joins 435 Holly as one of the few bears to win the title once, while others like 480 Otis have claimed victory multiple times.

This year’s Fat Bear Week reached new heights, with an impressive 1.7 million votes cast, breaking the former record of 1.3 million in 2023.

As the bears continue their preparations for hibernation, they will persist in hunting until food grows limited. In Alaska, this typically means they will enter hibernation between October and November. 32 Chunk, oblivious to his win, will soon begin hibernation, with fans hoping to see him return next spring to compete once more.

Best of luck, 32 Chunk.