Fierce mama bear wins Fat Bear Week after piling on the pounds before hibernation

A ginormous mother bear has chomped through hundreds of pounds of salmon to become the Fat Bear Week champion.

The humongous Alaskan beast, also known as 128 Grazer, was praised for piling on the pounds in the run-up to hibernation period.

Fat Bear Week is an annual competition that celebrates bears who are packing on weight to survive a long hibernation season.

Over the years, the competition has witnessed record-breaking salmon runs, with more than 60 million fish migrating at one point, the Department of Interior reports.

This year 128 Grazer has breezed past her competitors at every point in the tournament, with ranger Felicia Jimenez noting: 'She has been putting in the work.'

128 Grazer (pictured) has been praised for 'putting in the work' by piling on the pounds in the run up to hibernation season

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(A side by side comparison of 128 Grazer) The bear was victorious at every point in the Fat Bear Week competition, winning in the head-to-head against immense beast - 32 Chunk, with 108,321 votes to 23,134

During the knockout tournament unveiling, the Katmai National Park ranger added: 'She was quite dainty in early summer, but now she is huge.' 

The female bear, spotted by her big blonde ears, was among the favourites to win at the beginning of the competition. 

The skilled fisher, has been admired for her unrecognisable transformation, from a slender mammal to a no-nonsense hunter.

The dominant animal came out on top in the ballot box, defeating her competition in every round.

She raced ahead of fellow bears, 747 and Holy to go head-to-head with the colossal beast 32 Chunk.

Yet again the defensive mother came out victorious bagging her first Fat Bear Week win, with 108,321 votes to 23,134.

The furry beast not only stood her ground in the ballots, but also in her habitat of Brooks River. 

Regarding the protective mother bear, the Katmai National Park said: 'For example, a large adult male, 151 Walker, regularly avoided her approach. 

'Grazer's combination of skill and toughness makes her one of Brooks River's most formidable, successful, and adaptable bears.'

 Known for her no-nonsense attitude, Katmai National Park stated other bears remembered her dominant and protective reputation even though she was an empty nester this year

The mother bear had previously raised two sets of cubs, but this year she was fending only for herself.

Jimenez added: 'She hasn't had to worry about providing for anybody but herself, so she has really made some massive gains.' 

Grazer has a formidable reputation of being a tenacious mother, ready to pounce on any male bears that pose a threat to her babies.

However, despite being a lone wolf this season, her dominant reputation is still etched into the memory of many other bears, according to Katmai National Park.

The empty-nester has also been praised for her ability to look ahead to the future, catching a copious amount of salmon en masse, often fishing well into the night.

The tournament celebrating bears has seen a huge amount of interest during this years competition, with 1.4 million people placing their votes.

Two years prior, nearly less than half of this years votes were cast in the tournament, with only 800,000 placed.