Holly, Bear 435, Is 2019's Winner Of Fat Bear Week And Our New Bear Queen

Oct 11, 2019 by apost team

Are bears always subjected to people's fears? The answer depends on where you live. In areas where the bear population is significant, residents do know to remain cautious with these animals. Wild bears are dangerous, but they are also amazing creatures that possess a natural charm and beauty. Alaska is one such place where bears are treated with respect and admiration. A bear can also win a fun contest held once a year at the Katmai National Park and Preserve.

The title of the contest isn't entirely flattering. The "Fat Bear 2019" winner, however, will receive some fame from the honor. A large creature named 435 Holly took the annual prize this time around. In a forest of heavyset bears, 435 Holly topped them all.

"She is fat. She is fabulous… All hail Holly whose healthy heft will help her hibernate until the spring. Long live the Queen of Corpulence," said the park on Facebook.

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If you examine pictures of the bear from today vs. two months ago, you'll notice the bear previously appeared much thinner. The bear ate an enormous amount of food to pack on the extra way. The obese bear has a purpose for putting on so much extra weight. The added fat keeps the bear in survival mode during a long hibernation period. And hibernation runs well into the spring.

The judges for the Fat Bear contest are online voters. The voters have considerable discretion to choose which bear wins the big prize. Of course, the bears do need to pack on a lot of bulk to become noticed. Voters likely take the personality and other traits of their favorite bears into consideration, too.

The concept of a Fat Bear contest is pretty cool. Why not let your friends and family know about the humorous contest taking place once a year in Alaska?