Fat Bear Week is back, with one big, fat exception.
For those not in the know about this chubby extravaganza, Fat Bear Week is a March Madness-style bracket that pits tubby cubs at Katmai National Park and Preserve against each other as they fatten themselves up for hibernation.
It’s the “Olympics of obesity,” as the park puts it, and a body positivity victory for all.
The southwest Alaska preserve invites its Facebook fans to like pictures of bears, who are matched against each other. From Oct. 2 to 8, the bear with the most love will move on to the next round.
The winner will be crowned 2019’s Fattest Bear.
But this year’s competition is already off to a contentious start. Last year’s “Fattest Bear,” Bear 409, a k a “Beadnose,” is noticeably absent from the bracket, Mashable reports.
Beadnose’s absence is “sus,” as the teens say. Close fat bear-watchers agree.
“When we last saw her, she appeared very fat and just as healthy as any other bear. Yet, she wasn’t seen at the river this summer and her absence remains unexplained,” Mike Fitz, a former park ranger at Katmai National Park and resident naturalist for explore.org, told the site.
Without Beadnose in the mix, the competition is wide open for any full-figured furball to take the crown.
To get to know the bears better before you cast your votes, you can watch them waddle around on the BearCam live stream from explore.org. It’s chonk city.
Today’s first match-up sees 775 Lefty against two-time Fat Bear week champ 480 Otis.
Fans of the jiggly giants can’t wait to show their support.
“omfg FAT BEAR WEEK,” wrote one excited Twitter user.
“WHOS READY TO VOTE FOR THE CHONKIEST,” wrote another.
May God bless all the fat bears competing this week.
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