New Delhi, Sept. 22 -- Every autumn, Alaska's Katmai National Park turns into the stage for one of nature's most unusual yet beloved contests: Fat Bear Week. This year's event runs from September 23 to 30, 2025, giving people around the world the chance to vote for the fattest brown bear preparing for winter hibernation.

The online tournament is simple. Each day, two bears face off in a head-to-head matchup. Fans vote at fatbearweek.org between noon and 9 p.m. Eastern Time. The bear with the most votes advances until one is crowned champion on September 30. According to the National Park Service (NPS), the bracket will be revealed on September 22, and only one vote per email is allowed.

The competition has created legends over the years...