World's Toughest Bear 'The Boss' Survived Being Hit By Train And Is Father To 70% Of Cubs In The Region

Due to his enormous size and reputation, a 600-pound male grizzly bear roaming a Canadian national park has earned the nickname "The Boss."

The enormous grizzly bear, which is reported to be around 20 years old, is regarded as the biggest and toughest bear in all of Banff National Park.

The Boss, formally known as the rather less remarkable Bear 122, is also known to kill and cannibalize smaller bears, and as you might expect, he comes with a strong warning for people to stay away.

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A group of hikers discovered The Boss eating an animal carcass back in 2013, which led to the closure of the trail for everyone's safety.

Officials discovered the remains of a small black bear that had been eaten by the much larger bear when it was later reopened after the bear had wandered gone. Banff National Park's Steve Michel, a specialist in human-wildlife conflict, stated to The National Post: "It had been completely consumed.”

(Image: mediadrumimages/JasonLeoBantle)

"There was nothing remaining other than a skull, a hide, the four paws, and some bones."

He added: “There were indications the black bear was foraging on the trail at the time.”

“It looks like that black bear just happened to find himself in the wrong place at the wrong time when a very large grizzly bear came by.”

(Image: mediadrumimages/JasonLeoBantle)

The small bear probably wasn't able to put up much of a struggle against The Boss because of their difference in size, Michel continued.

He said: “This is grizzly bear number 122, so he’s a very large grizzly bear. I don’t think there would have been much of a brawl that took place.”

“It would have been fairly quick.”

There aren't many animals that could compete with The Boss, Michel continued, because he is "definitely the dominant animal out on the landscape."

Experts estimate that The Boss may have fathered up to 70% of the cubs who were born in the park over the years, and there is even a rumor that he was hit by a train but survived with little harm.

According to one analyst, The Boss has gained considerable notoriety in the neighborhood and has been "seen enough to be recognized."

He's the boss of this area, according to Dan Rafla, a Parks Canada expert on human-wildlife interaction.

"He’s the most dominant male grizzly in the Bow Valley…and there’s nothing else in the food chain that could push him off.”