A baby king penguin named Pesto at Sea Life Aquarium in Melbourne, Australia is capturing the hearts of people worldwide. This nine-month-old chick weighs a whopping 49 pounds, more than double the weight of his parents. Pesto is the heaviest chick ever at the aquarium and is known for his hearty appetite of 25 fish a day. His gender was recently revealed by his keeper, Michaela Smale, by uncovering a mountain of blue snow. Pesto’s popularity is also growing on social media, with nearly 2 billion views on TikTok. The General Manager of Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, Claire Burrell, expressed how Pesto has brought immense joy to everyone at the aquarium and penguin fans globally.
As Pesto grows and matures, his rapid weight gain will eventually plateau as he becomes a fledgling. The chick has already started molting his brown feathers, which will be replaced by the black and white feathers typical of king penguins. Keepers at the aquarium predict that Pesto will slim down to around 33 pounds as he loses his baby weight. While his adorable baby fluff may take one to two months to shed, Pesto will eventually have a sleek and streamlined appearance. This process of maturation is common among young penguins as they progress from chicks to adults.
Pesto was hatched on January 31, and since then, he has been a major crowd-pleaser at the aquarium. The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition states that adult king penguins typically weigh between 21 pounds and 40 pounds. As Pesto continues to develop, he will go through various stages of growth and transition, including shedding his baby fluff and developing his iconic black and white plumage. The chick’s journey from infancy to maturity is being closely monitored by the aquarium staff, who are eager to share Pesto’s future adventures with visitors and fans around the world.
The announcement of Pesto’s gender earlier this month generated excitement among staff and fans of the aquarium. His keeper, Michaela Smale, played a key role in revealing Pesto’s gender by unearthing a pile of blue snow, symbolizing the chick’s male identity. Pesto’s parents, Hudson and Tango, also play a significant role in his upbringing and development. With his robust appetite and rapid growth, Pesto is set to become a beloved member of the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium community. The baby penguin’s journey from hatching to fledging is a remarkable and heartwarming example of the wonders of nature and the joy that animals can bring to people’s lives.
In addition to attracting attention at the aquarium, Pesto has garnered a global following on social media platforms like TikTok, where his videos have amassed nearly 2 billion views. This surge in popularity reflects the widespread appeal of the adorable king penguin chick and the universal fascination with penguins. As Pesto continues to grow and transition into adulthood, his presence at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium will remain a source of delight and inspiration for visitors and fans alike. The unique charm and charisma of Pesto, combined with his remarkable size and growth, make him a truly special and unforgettable member of the penguin community.
