A king penguin chick named Pesto, who weighs a whopping 22 kilograms, is quickly becoming a viral sensation and a major attraction at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium in Australia. At just nine months, Pesto has already surpassed the combined weight of his parents, Hudson and Tango, who each weigh 11 kilograms. His impressive size and charming personality have captured the attention of millions worldwide.
According to Jacinta Early, the aquarium’s education supervisor, Pesto is the heaviest penguin chick they’ve ever had at the facility. His growth has been remarkable, and he has become a social media star with more than 1.9 billion views on various platforms.
Pesto’s rapid rise to internet fame has been nothing short of extraordinary. His fluffy brown feathers and his chunky frame make him an irresistible sight for visitors and online viewers alike. His adorable waddle and oversized physique have earned him fans from across the globe, with thousands of admirers regularly tuning in to see his latest antics.
One of the most intriguing facts about Pesto is his insatiable appetite. In the past week alone, he consumed 24 kilograms of fish, more than his own body weight! Despite this hefty diet, Early assures that this quantity of food is perfectly healthy for a penguin chick on the cusp of adulthood.
As Pesto matures, his growth will eventually slow down, particularly as he enters his fledging period. During this phase, Pesto will begin shedding his fluffy brown feathers and replacing them with the sleek black and white plumage characteristic of adult penguins. The transition is expected to take one to two months, during which time Pesto will trim down to a healthier adult weight of around 15 kilograms.
For now, Pesto remains the star attraction at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium. Visitors often gather in crowds around his enclosure to witness the king penguin’s feeding sessions. One onlooker recently remarked, “Such a small head for such a big body,” a statement that perfectly sums up Pesto’s adorable charm.
Born on January 31, Pesto is the only king penguin chick to hatch at the aquarium in 2023, following a year in which no chicks were born. In 2022, the aquarium saw the successful hatching of six king penguin chicks, though the reason for last year’s gap remains unclear. Despite this, Pesto’s healthy growth and flourishing presence have made up for the lull. He continues to be a crowd favourite, and for the next couple of weeks, Pesto will still be recognisable in his famous fluffy form.
