A bear called 128 Grazer has won her second Fat Bear Week title — an online popularity contest run by the US National Park Service that has developed an enthusiastic global following.
The annual online poll, which showcases brown bears living in Alaska's Katmai Park, ended with a rematch of last year's final between 128 Grazer and male bear 32 Chunk.
Grazer once again came out on top over her chubby rival, raking in the majority of the public's votes — 71,248 to Chunk's 30,468.
What is Fat Bear Week?
It's an online popularity contest for bears in Katmai National Park in the American state of Alaska.
Fans vote for their favourite bear in a knock-out style competition until one bear emerges as the winner.
It all started back in 2012 when video cameras were placed throughout the park, giving people a live stream of the bears.
A viewer posted a before and after picture they had taken on their screen showing the transformation of a bear as it fattened itself up before going into winter hibernation.
Two years later, some rangers came up with an idea called Fat Bear Tuesday as a way to engage people, giving them the chance to vote for their favourite bears.
It grew in popularity, eventually become a week-long contest and attracting fans from around the world.
Last year, more than 1.4 million people voted in the poll.
How is a winner decided?
By a public vote.
"People may vote using any criteria they see fit," the contest website says.
"In the end, one bear will reign supreme."
Grazer beats son, long-time rival for second title
The tournament turned out to be a family affair for Grazer this year.
She was propelled into the semifinals after beating 909 Junior, her first cousin once removed and a two-time Fat Bear Junior winner, in a landslide 73,018 votes to 16,688.
Grazer then found herself against her eight-year-old son, 903 Gully, who she beat by another wide margin — 67,764 to 11,791.
Naomi Boak from the National Conservancy said while Grazer taught her son well, Gully was no match as her penultimate hurdle.
"He has the tools to succeed, including how to be a force on the lip falls," she said.
"But sorry Gully, it's hard to beat a fearless and tenacious mother bear like yours."
Her second Fat Bear Week win over Chunk follows a season in which their rivalry came to serious blows.
Grazer had started the season raising two cubs but lost one in a fight with the dominant male in July.
Both cubs were swept over the falls one afternoon,and carried by the current toward Chunk.
The fearless mother rushed in to defend her cubs but not before Chunk had injured the one nearest to him.
That cub later died from its injuries.
Explore.org naturalist Mike Fitz, who helps run Fat Bear Week said the incident was a clear example of Grazer's bravery.
"Even when she's faced with a competitor that is much bigger than her, she meets the challenge head on," he said.
"We see that on display when she defends her cubs from threats posed by other bears; she's the archetypal mother bear."
Chunk 'well-equipped' after successful salmon season
Estimated to weigh more than 1200 pounds (about 540 kilograms), Chunk's rise to the top of the table this year seemed like a given.
But he lost major popularity points following his attack on Grazer's cubs.
Once again, Chunk's campaign for king of the flab was not meant to be.
The hulking bruin has now recorded his fourth runner-up placing.
Despite losing another title, Chunk's efforts this season weren't for nothing, Katmai Park ranger Sarah Bruce said.
"He's well-equipped this year to be surviving off those fat stores," she said.
"He just gets to relax, have a good hibernation with really nothing to worry about except just being a bear."
This year was the 11th edition of Fat Bear Week, which celebrates the brown bear residents of Alaska's Katmai Park before they go into hibernation.
Fans are able to watch the bears fish for salmon along the Brooks River throughout the summer via live streams from cameras set up in the area.
Rangers share photos of the bears' months-long bodybuilding efforts so the public can vote for their favourites.
[INTERACTIVE: Map of Katmai National Park]Mr Fitz said fat equals success, adaptation and survival in the bear world.
"Through instinct and learned skill, and their energetic savings account — which is body fat — they find shelter and they find comfort, even as they experience a months' long famine."
