Solitary Bear 'Backpack' Crowned Champion in Alaska's Fat Bear Week Tournament

A brown bear known for its solitary habits, affectionately nicknamed 'Backpack,' has emerged victorious in the annual Fat Bear Week competition held at Alaska's Katmai National Park. The 20-year-old bear, recognized for spending considerable time alone on a rock along the Brooks River, secured the title by a narrow margin of approximately 5,000 votes.

The tournament celebrates the remarkable ability of the park's brown bears to consume vast quantities of salmon in preparation for hibernation. This year's competition saw 'Backpack' narrowly edge out a formidable contender, a large female bear known as 'Dancing Queen,' in a public vote that highlights the public's fascination with these magnificent animals and their survival strategies.