At Katmai National Park, the bigger the bear, the better.

Every year, the brown bears of Katmai National Park in Alaska unknowingly compete in a competition watched by people around the world: Fat Bear Week.

What are the requirements for that competition? I’m glad you asked. There’s only one: get fat.

When the bears woke from hibernation earlier this year, they had one goal in mind. Eat all they possibly can until it is time to hibernate again.

Since then, they have been feasting on copious amounts of salmon to bulk up for the winter ahead. They must eat, and eat, and eat until their bellies hang as low as they possibly can. Then they need to eat some more.

It may make for some entertaining photos, but all that eating serves a very important purpose. The weight these bears gain during the warmer months has to sustain them through winter and months of hibernation.

Life at Katmai is not always easy, either. These are wild animals, and this year brought a grim reminder of that reality when Bear 806 attacked and killed the cub of another bear in an encounter captured on camera.

Now, back to the competition.

Last year’s champion, 32 Chunk, is back and looking to keep his crown. I must say, though, he has some big competition this year.

Will Chunk remain champion, or will a new bear take the crown? We’ll find out soon enough, but I can guarantee one thing. They will be round, hefty, hydrated, and unbothered.

I’m Emma Dunn, WBMC’s Fat Bear Week specialist, and I’ll be joining Town Talk at 7:45 a.m. each morning this week to break down the full bracket and follow the competition.

May the fattest bear win.