The World’s Toughest Bear, Dubbed “The Boss,” Survived Being Hit By a Train and Fathered 70% of The Cubs in His Region

Due to his impressive size and reputation, a 600lb male grizzly bear roaming around a Canadian national park has earned the nickname The Boss.

The massive grizzly bear is thought to be around 20 years old and is widely regarded as the largest and toughest bear in Banff National Park.

The Boss, officially known as the slightly less impressive Bear 122, has also been known to kill and cannibalize smaller bears and, as you might expect, comes with a strong warning for humans to stay away.

Back in 2013, a group of hikers came across The Boss devouring an animal carcass, prompting the trail to be closed for safety.

When it was reopened after the bear had left, officials discovered the remains of a small black bear that had been devoured by the much larger one. According to Steve Michel, a human-wildlife conflict specialist with Banff National Park, “it had been fully consumed.”

“There was nothing left but a skull, a hide, the four paws, and some bones.”

“There were evidence the black bear was foraging on the trail at the time,” he continued.

“It appears that the black bear was in the wrong position at the wrong moment when a very enormous grizzly bear passed by.”

Michel went on to suggest that due to their size differences, the small bear was unlikely to put up much of a struggle against The Boss.

“This is grizzly bear number 122, so he’s a really enormous grizzly bear,” he explained. I don’t think there would have been much of a brawl if this had happened.

“It would have been fairly quick.”

Michel went on to point out that The Boss is ‘definitely the dominant animal out on the landscape’ so there aren’t many animals who would be able to take him on.

Experts believe The Boss may have fathered up to 70% of the cubs born in the park over the years, and there’s even speculation that he was hit by a train and escaped relatively unscathed.

The Boss has become a local celebrity, with one expert stating that he’s “seen enough to be recognized.”

Parks Canada’s Dan Rafla, a human-wildlife coexistence specialist, told The Culture Trip: “He rules over this landscape.

“He’s the dominant male grizzly in the Bow Valley…and nothing else in the food chain can push him off.”