tech
Gorging on bearcam: the livestream of big beasts eating that draws millions
Ahead of Fat Bear Week, avid fans are glued to the spectacle of brown bears devouring salmon at Brooks Falls in Alaska
TL;DR
- The Brooks Falls bearcam in Alaska's Katmai National Park saw 7.3 million views between June 22 and August 4, a 70% increase from the previous year.
- The livestream showcases brown bears catching sockeye salmon at the Brooks Falls waterfall.
- Explore.org, the wildlife network running the cameras, attributes the surge in viewers to a larger number of bears congregating at the falls this year.
- Nature-based webcams are believed to benefit wildlife conservation by improving attitudes, behaviors, and awareness.
- Dedicated fans identify individual bears and monitor their feeding habits, with one bear, Otis, reportedly eating 42 salmon.
- Katmai's annual Fat Bear Week, where the public votes to crown the park's fattest bear, is approaching, highlighting the animals' preparation for hibernation.