Dr. Daniel Blumstein is a biologist who has run a research project on marmots for over 60 years. When the government cut funding, he became worried. In an act of desperationdesperation/ˌdɛspəˈreɪʃən/L2绝望；拼命a feeling of having no hope and being willing to do anything to change a bad situation, he started an OnlyFans account. He calls it OnlyMarms and posts family-friendly videos of marmots in their natural habitathabitat/ˈhæbɪtæt/L2栖息地；生活环境the natural home of an animal or plant. However, the platform flagged his profile photo because it did not match the marmot picture, but a quick email solved the problem.
The videos have earned more than $5,000, and after OnlyFans takes its share, the lab will get about $4,000. The project is the second-longest study of individually identified mammals in the world and studies the yellow-bellied marmot. It helps scientists understand population changes. This species is not threatened or endangered. In addition, the scientists started Fat Marmot Week, where people vote for the chunkiestchunkiest/ˈtʃʌŋkiɪst/L2最胖的；最圆滚滚的（形容动物）the fattest or heaviest; used to describe an animal that is very round and plump marmot.
Blumstein said, "It's fun to root for the chunkiest marmot." Blumstein added, "But behind the fun and games is a deathly serious competition against nature to pile on fat to survivesurvive/sərˈvaɪv/L2生存；存活to continue to live or exist, especially after a difficult situation the long, cold winter." On the other hand, the project may not raise enough money to cover all the cuts, but it helps raise awareness. The event also brings attention to the long-term study.
