how did chunk break his jaw

Chunk, a famous brown bear in Alaska's Katmai National Park, broke his jaw likely during a violent fight with another bear amidst the peak mating season in June. The injury happened while salmon had not yet arrived at Brooks River, suggesting the fight was over mating dominance rather than food. Chunk's jaw was not only broken but also dislocated, which is a permanent injury, but he adapted his eating style to chew using the left side of his jaw and continued to catch fish successfully. Despite this severe injury, Chunk remained dominant, resilient, and capable of gaining weight for winter hibernation, even winning the 2025 Fat Bear Week contest in admiration of his perseverance.