Fat Bear Week 2025 Has Crowned a Winner! See the Results and Meet the New Champion

Fat Bear Week 2025 has crowned its winner!

On Tuesday, Sept. 30, voting in the 2025 Fat Bear Week competition concluded. The final match-up in the single-elimination, bracket-style contest came down to Chunk (also known as Bear 32) and Bear 856. Chunk ended up winning the final round with 96,362 votes, beating Bear 856's 63,729 votes.

After voting closed, Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve and Explore.org announced the winner of its annual competition, which lets fans vote online to determine which Katmai bear "best exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears" as the park's wildlife bulk up for hibernation.

Woman fed bears 180 eggs a week — and now she’ll pay for it, Canadian officials say

Every week during the summer of 2018, a woman bought 10 cases of apples, 50 pounds of carrots and dozens of eggs.

The food was for bears, Canada authorities said.

A woman from Whistler was ordered to pay $60,000 after officials said she violated the Wildlife Act in British Columbia.

In July 2018, the Conservation Officer Service, a public safety agency that focuses on human-wildlife conflict prevention, received a complaint that someone was feeding black bears in the neighborhood.

To read more on this story, click here: Woman fed bears 180 eggs a week — and now she’ll pay for it, Canadian officials say

Rescue Bear, Lion, And Tiger Were Best Friends For Almost 16 Years

We sometimes hear about “strange bedfellows” and there may be times when this occurs between different animals. The following story will convince you of the possibilities that exist in nature. It is about the bond that was formed between an American black bear, a Bengal tiger, and an African lion.

Bored Panda reported that Baloo the bear, Leo the lion, and Shere Khan have been living happily together at Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter in Georgia for almost 16 years. The trio of unlikely friends is usually known as BLT. They were rescued from the same basement of a house in Atlanta during a drug raid in 2001.

To read more on this story, click here: Rescue Bear, Lion, And Tiger Were Best Friends For Almost 16 Years

Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan: The Only Giant Pandas in the World Not Owned by China

Mexico City, Mexico -  The Chapultepec zoo in Mexico City says that Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan are the only giant pandas in the world not owned by China.

They were born in captivity in Mexico and although they have Chinese names, "they belong to Mexico," said Rafael Tinajero, a manager at the zoo.

They are the main attractions at the Chapultepec zoo in Mexico City, and what makes them unique is that they are not owned by China.

Many young pandas born abroad in captivity are later repatriated to China, where the species originates.

But Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan, with their plump bodies and tender expressions, will be staying put.

They are the last in the line of a panda couple -- Ying Ying and Pe Pe -- loaned to Mexico by the Chinese government in 1975.

Since 1980, China has operated a different policy in which it only lends pandas for a short time and in return for a payment towards wild panda conservation efforts.

The panda is considered a vulnerable species.

As Ying Ying and Pe Pe arrived in Mexico before China changed its policy, Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan will stay in Mexico.

"With that, Mexico became the first country outside of China to have had a successful natural reproduction of pandas outside their natural habitat, in captivity conditions," said Tinajero.

He said eight more pandas were born in Mexico between 1980 and 1990 but only four of those survived.

Giant pandas typically live until about 20 in the wild and 30 in captivity.

They average around 100-115 kilograms (220-250 pounds) and adults stand between 1.2 to 1.9 meters (4-6 feet) tall. Males can weigh as much as 160 kilograms.

Jimbo The 9-Foot Kodiak Bear Passes Away After 20 Years Of Family Life

What do you do when your 1,400-pound (approx. 635-kilogram) bear just needs a warm hug? Well, of course you give him cuddles! Most wild animals could never be tamed—but this lovable hunk was one of a kind.

Jimbo the huge Kodiak brown bear was born in captivity. He was injured, and Jim Kowalczik knew he could never be returned to the wild when he decided to take him under his wing as a cub.

When Jim and Susan Kowalczik founded the Orphaned Wildlife Center in Otisville, upstate New York, in 2015, Jimbo would spend the rest of his life there with them.

He kept company with another 11 bears at the sanctuary. They would all be released into the wild once they were healed of their injuries. Some had survived collisions with cars; others had become orphans when their mothers were killed.

The couple treated Jimbo as part of the family, and Jim was often photographed playing with the affectionate bear, or perhaps the two would just sit relaxed together as friends sometimes do.

When Jimbo began to feel out of sorts, last February, a visit from the vet did little to help him, and the cause of his discomfort was unknown, though it was later found to be cancer of the liver.

To read more on this story, click here: Jimbo The 9-Foot Kodiak Bear Passes Away After 20 Years Of Family Life

These Incredible Animal Photos Show Why Steve Irwin’s Son Is An Award Winning Photographer

Being part of the legacy that Steve Irwin left behind must be no easy task, but Robert Irwin, his 13-year-old son makes it seem smooth and oh-so-easy. Robert and his family have always been involved with nature, and even as a baby, his love for it was obvious. Now as a young teenager, he has actually traveled around the world with his family, capturing nature while at it and becoming an award-winning photographer – yes, at just 13-years-old!

Regardless of his age, there is no question why his work has been recognized in several contests: the images he captures are raw and pretty up-close, giving people a more intimate glance at nature and wildlife through his images.

To read more on this story, click here: These Incredible Animal Photos Show Why Steve Irwin’s Son Is An Award Winning Photographer

8 Secrets Zoos Keep Under Wraps

Zoos exist to display exotic animals for all the world to see. But what's going on at zoos away from the public's view?

Few destinations conjure up as idyllic an image as an afternoon at the zoo. Strolling about on a nice day with some lighthearted animal-themed ice cream treat and checking out monkeys, bears, and a few sleeping reptiles is as wholesome as apple pie on the Fourth of July.

But certainly, some secrets must be hidden in the shadows of those cages and fake rock formations. For those who have ever wondered about what’s really going on at your local zoo behind the locked gates and after closing time, allow us to drops some zoo truths on you.

To read more on this story, click here: 8 Secrets Zoos Keep Under Wraps

Bei Bei The Giant Panda, At Smithsonian's National Zoo, Turned 3-Years-Old Today

Washington, DC - Bei Bei turned 3 years old today! In celebration of his big day, Bei Bei enjoyed an ice-cake, participated in an enrichment painting session and received a new panda-friendly toy.

His cake was specially made by the Zoo’s department of nutrition sciences and included all of his favorite foods. The tiers were made of diluted apple, cranberry and grape juice with leaf-eater biscuit puree. It was decorated and filled with apples, pears, bananas, shredded carrots and cooked sweet potatoes. The number 3 that topped the cake was made of diluted apple juice with a leaf-eater biscuit puree center.

Now weighing in at almost 215 pounds, Bei Bei has been taking full advantage of his summer—splashing around in his big green tub, and napping in trees and on his new hammock.

Tian Tian is the next giant panda to celebrate a birthday. He turns 21 on Monday, Aug. 27 and will also receive a special cake at 11 a.m.

Childless Russian Couple Adopted An Orphaned Bear When He Was Only Three Months Old And 25 Years Later, He Still Lives With Them

The most feasible option for childless couples is to turn to adoption. However, one Russian couple took a completely different approach when it comes to adoption.

For starters, the thought of sharing your house with a 300-pound grizzly bear seems less than accommodating.

The setting may sound uncustomary plus dangerous, but for Yuriy and Svetlana, they couldn’t process their life without Stepan, their 25-year-old grizzly.

Standing tall at 7-feet, dwarfing both Yuriy and Svetlana, the bear is tall enough to be a center in the NBA starting lineup. But regardless of Stepan’s imposing figure and the threat he possesses, he is just as domesticated and behaved as your normal pet.

He is well-behaved to the extent that he sit with Yuriy and Svetlana to watch television in the evenings.

Moreover, he occasionally helps around the house by watering the plants and helping Yuriy with his chores.

However, taking care of a 300-pound 7-foot grizzly is no cakewalk. It requires a lot of money, effort and time. For meals only, the couple feeds Stepan 25-30 kg of fish, eggs, and vegetables on a daily basis.


To read more on this story, click here: Childless Russian Couple Adopted An Orphaned Bear When He Was Only Three Months Old And 25 Years Later, He Still Lives With Them

Watch: Police Free Bear Locked Inside A Car

Notorious Gangster Known as Nutzu the Pawnbroker, Used Lions and Bears to Intimidate Victims

Bucharest, Romania - A notorious gangster known as Nutzu the Pawnbroker has been indicted for heading a gang charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, blackmail and illegally possessing weapons, but the public seems to be more interested in his pets: four lions and two bears.

Press reports, not confirmed by authorities have claimed that Ion Balint - his real name - use the lions to intimidate rivals and victims.

When he rode away from prison on a black stallion in 2010, Balint played up that fearsome image.

"You said I fed men to the lions?" Balint can be heard saying on a tape heard by The Associated Press. "Why don't you come over and I'll give you some lions!"

Authorities won't speculate about why Balint kept lions and bears, as well as thoroughbred horses and canaries, at his high-walled and heavily guarded estate in the poorest part of Bucharest.

"Many untruths are being reported," Balint's son-in-law Marius Vlad told The Associated Press on Wednesday, referring to other rumors of a torture chamber.

Bystanders and relatives who gathered near the gates of the estate described Balint, 48, as a good neighbor and an animal lover, and said they weren't bothered by roaring lions.

"We can hear them every day but only when they're hungry or the female is in heat," said Gabriela Ionescu, 36, robed in a dressing gown and clutching her toddler daughter's hand. "They don't disturb us at all."

Authorities allege that Balint and his brother Vasile headed a criminal network which controlled much of the underworld activity in Bucharest, a city of 2 million. Some 400 police and detectives were involved in the investigation which led to the arrest last week of 67 suspects, including the Balint brothers.

In 2009, Balint was convicted of human trafficking, violence and pimping, and sentenced to 13 years in prison. That was reduced to six years but Balint was free after a year.

On Wednesday, the four lions and two bears were sedated, put in cages and removed Wednesday by environmental authorities and the Vier Pfoten animal welfare charity. The animals, which generally appeared in good condition, will be temporarily housed in a zoo and may be eventually relocated in South Africa, animal welfare officers said.

Mircea Pupaza, commissioner of the National Environment Guard, told The Associated Press that Balint had no documentation or health records for the animals, which he's kept illegally for 10 years. He could face a year in prison and a hefty fine for illegally keeping wild animals.

"The lions are a status symbol for him," said Livia Cimpoeru, a Vier Pfoten spokeswoman. She declined to speculate whether they had a more sinister purpose.

Lions sit in a cage on the estate of Ion Balint in Bucharest. The animal welfare charity Vier Pfoten removed four lions and two bears that were illegally kept on the estate.

A bear chews on the bars of a cage at the estate of Ion Balint. He was convicted in 2009 for human trafficking, violence and pimping and sentenced to 13 years in prison. The sentence was later reduced to six years, but Balint was freed after serving one year.

A sedated lioness is removed from the estate of Ion Balint. He had no documentation for the animals, which police say he's kept illegally for 10 years.

                                        A bear reaches out from a cage.

A Bear Had to Have His 7 Pound Tongue Removed After it Became Swollen from an Unknown Disease

A bear had to have his tongue removed after it became swollen and weighed almost 7 pounds and dragged along the ground.

Nyan htoo and his brother were rescued as cubs by monks in Myanmar after being taken from their mother so they could be sold illegally.

However after their rescue, it soon became clear the bear was suffering from an unknown disease, which caused his tongue to become enlarged.

Vets operated on Nyan htoo in 2016 in an attempt to save his tongue by removing the excess tissue, but the swelling returned and worsened over time.

By June the disease was badly affecting Nyan htoo's quality of life, so vets reluctantly decided to amputate.

Veterinary surgeon Heather Bacon, from the University of Edinburgh's Royal School of Veterinary Studies, worked with Caroline Nelson, a veterinary nurse at the Animals Asia Bear Rescue Centre in Vietnam to perform the procedure in Myanmar.

They were joined by another vet, Romain Pizzi, from Wildlife Surgery International, and removed almost 7lbs of tissue in an operation that lasted four hours.

Ms Bacon said: “This was an opportunity for us to use our veterinary and animal welfare expertise to make a significant difference for a bear and the people who care for him.”

The veterinary team now believe the swelling may have been caused by a mosquito-transmitted infection called elephantiasis, a condition that is common in people in Myanmar but has never been reported in bears.

Alaskan Town's Polar Bear Problem Leads to Tourism Boom

Polar bears are an enduring symbol of the wild arctic, a mighty beast that has made its home in punishing terrains. But in recent years, the polar bear has come to embody something else: A creature caught in a world that’s disappearing under its feet.

Each fall, the bears descend in hordes on the tiny Alaskan village of Kaktovik, located on Barter Island, hugging the state’s northern coast.

And the bears are hungry.

Polar bears wandering into the town, with its population of just 239 people, proved to be such a problem there that a polar bear patrol now sweeps the streets looking for the animals.

To read more on this story, click here: Alaskan Town's Polar Bear Problem Leads to Tourism Boom

Some People Decided to Show How Animals Enhance Their Lives by Getting Animal Tattoos

Is seeing an animal you adore sure to put a smile on your face? Some people decided to show how animals enhance their lives by getting tattoos to elicit that very response with every glance! Take a look at  how a few creative animal enthusiasts took permanent steps to share their appreciation for animals with the world.

Panda Tattoo
Many people don’t know that pandas used to roam all across China millions of years ago. Now, they primarily live in the mountain ranges of central China – which is an interesting fact that you can share with people when they see your adorable panda tattoo!

Kitty Reaching for the Stars Tattoo
Cat owners know that felines are forever curious. This enthralling tattoo perfectly represents the mentality of a feline, showcasing a cute cat reaching for the stars!

Snake Tattoo
It isn’t always the first creature people feel affection for, but there’s a sizeable amount of the population who greatly enjoys the sinuous beauty and stubborn survivalist nature of the snake. This brave woman decided to show her love for this animal with a subtle hand tattoo.

Bear Tattoo
It’s important to bear in mind that those of the ursine lineage are capable of quiet grace and beauty. Though the cute and often clumsy idea of a bear is common in everything from cartoons to wood carvings, a stunning tattoo like this captures the wild elegance in their hearts.

Deer Tattoo
Deer lovers are sure to fawn over the beauty of this tattoo. It’s appropriate that this tattoo was placed on the ankle, as deer are fond of running and jumping around!

Sometimes Subtlety is the Best Option
Not everyone wants to get a prominent tattoo that’s easily seen. A compact tattoo, such as a baby scorpion behind your ear, is an excellent way to represent an animal that you care about without drawing a lot of attention.

Love for the Sea
Maybe your favorite creature resides in the water! If so, you may want to ink your skin with a colorful representation of one of the most popular residents of the ocean – like this fanciful crab!

Eye of the Tiger
The tiger is a stunning animal – and one under threat from habitat loss and poaching. So a tattoo as beautiful as this one is not only a great conversation-starter, it may lead to another great conversation as well.

Family of Elephants

Whether sweet, silly, or captivating, an animal tattoo can be a fun and creative way to show your appreciation for the creatures that inspire us every day. If you’re getting a tattoo, consider going a little wild with it. It’s a great way to share your fascination, and could even start a dialogue that raises awareness about protecting the species you love!

A Bear Was Shot and Killed Thursday Morning After a Woman in Frederick, Maryland Was Attacked

Frederick, Maryland - A bear was shot and killed Thursday morning after a woman in Frederick, Maryland was attacked the evening before, the Department of Natural Resources confirmed.

According to officials, around 9:30 p.m. 63-year-old Karen Osborne was walking to her son-in-law's house next door to check on their dog that was barking when she was attacked by the bear on Irongate Lane, in between Baltimore National Pike and Shookstown Road. It appears the woman got in between the bear her cubs. The bear weighed 200 pounds.

"It was not a bear that was sort of laying in wait for the homeowner. The best we can tell is she went down a dark driveway with a dog. There was another dog in the driveway off leash and the sow had her cubs there and she reacted to what she believed was a threat."

Police reported, Osborne suffered a broken arm, cuts to her head, and puncture wounds to both arms.

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A Conservation Officer in Canada Has Been Put on Suspension for Heroically Saving the Lives of Two Helpless Animals His Higher-Ups Wanted Killed

A conservation officer in Canada has been put on suspension — not for violating his duty to protect wildlife, but rather for heroically saving the lives of two helpless animals his higher-ups wanted killed.

Following reports of a female black bear who had broken into a home in rural British Columbia in the company of her two young cubs, Officer Bryce Casavant and local firefighters were dispatched to the scene. Unfortunately, the responders decided to put the mother bear down, though when it came to dealing with her now-orphaned offspring, the conservation officer took a more sympathetic approach.

Defying orders to euthanize the 8-week-old bear cubs, Casavant instead collected the frightened youngsters and had them sent to local animal hospital, the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. That simple show of kindness has now put his job in jeopardy, reports Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Meanwhile, conservation services released a statement saying that Casavant's actions are now under investigation, but supporters say the officer should be lauded, not suspended. A petition on Care.org has garnered more than 150,000 signatures calling for Casavant to be reinstated.

Given the bears' age, staff at North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre are optimistic the cubs will eventually be released back into the wild — all thanks to the sympathy shown by Casavant, who defends his actions on their behalf, telling the Vancouver Mirror:
"I think it is important for the community to know that I am here to do the right thing."

UPDATE: Officer Casavant was originally suspended without pay, but in light of the overwhelming public response to his case, he has since been placed back on they payroll, CVT News reports. He is currently still under suspension.

40 Dogs Killed by Wolves During Wisconsin Bear Hunt; Experts Puzzled

Wisconsin bear hunters achieved a typically high success rate during a monthlong season that concluded last week, but experts are still trying to determine why a record number of hunting dogs were killed in the process.

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, at least 40 dogs were preyed upon by wolves during a hunt that allowed the use of dogs to pursue and tree black bears.

That’s nearly double the previous record of 23 hunting dog deaths, in a phenomenon that might be attributed to a growing wolf population in the Badger State.

“We don’t have much to go on except speculation,” said Dave MacFarland, carnivore specialist with the state Department of Natural Resources. “[But] everybody can agree that we hope we don’t see a repeat of what we saw this year.”

To read more on this story, click here: 40 Dogs Killed by Wolves During Wisconsin Bear Hunt; Experts Puzzled

The Giant Panda Is No Longer An Endangered Species

The Giant Panda, the symbol of conservation, has been declared as no longer endangered by a group of experts on Sunday. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) now classifies the iconic animal as vulnerable on the Red List of Threatened Species after half a century of efforts to save it from extinction.

To read more on this story, click here: The Giant Panda Is No Longer An Endangered Species

Stunning Images from the 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

The 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest is underway.

National Geographic invites photographers from around the world to enter the 2016 Nature Photographer of the Year contest. The grand-prize winner will receive a 10-day trip for two to the Galápagos with National Geographic Expeditions and two 15-minute image portfolio reviews with National Geographic photo editors.

Eligible contestants can visit natgeo.com/photocontest to submit photographs in one or all of four categories: Landscape, Environmental Issues, Action and Animal Portraits. Each entry to the contest will be submitted through National Geographic's photo community, Your Shot, where members can comment on photos and share their favorites. The entry fee is $15 (USD) per photo, and there is no limit to the number of submissions per entrant. Entries must be in digital format and submitted electronically. The contest ends Saturday, Nov. 4, at 12 p.m. EDT (U.S.).

Here's a look at some of the submissions so far.

To read more on this story, click here: Stunning Images from the 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

Bei Bei, the National Zoo’s Youngest Giant Panda Cub, Celebrated His First Birthday on Saturday with a Giant Frozen Cake

Washington, DC - Bei Bei, the National Zoo’s youngest giant panda cub, celebrated his first birthday on Saturday with a giant frozen cake—as all pandas do.

The colorful cake—made of frozen apple, carrot and beet juice by the zoo’s nutrition department—took two weeks to create and weighs about 150 pounds. It was adorned with a giant number one.

Bei Bei will officially turn 1 on Monday. Saturday’s birthday celebration also included Bei Bei’s older sister, Bao Bao, who turns 3 on Tuesday, and Tian Tian, the cubs’ father, who turns 19 on Aug. 27, the Washington Post reported.

Early into the zoo’s Facebook Live broadcast on Saturday, Bei Bei had yet to approach his birthday cake, though his mother, Mei Xiang, was enjoying the frozen treat.

To see what the rest of the pandas are up to, check out the giant panda cam livestream.