Katmai National Park

Fat Bear Week is underway, the annual contest run by Alaska's Katmai National Park in which the public votes for the brown bear that has gained the most weight before hibernation. Organisers and media including the BBC are encouraging people to compare photos of the bears and cast votes, celebrating the animals' preparation for winter.

Fat Bear Week, the annual competition run by Katmai National Park in Alaska, is under way, with readers browsing photos of the twelve finalist bears. This year's champion contender, a large brown bear nicknamed Chunk, is facing stiff competition from other heavy bears preparing for hibernation. Forbes has published a photo roundup of the finalists as fans vote for their favourite.