Giant King Penguin Chick Pesto Takes Social Media by Storm

A
massive
king penguin chick named Pesto, weighing as much as both of his parents combined, has caught the attention of social media users worldwide, becoming a
viral sensation
and a top attraction at an Australian aquarium. At just 9 months old, Pesto tips the scales at 49 pounds (22 kilograms), making him the heaviest penguin chick ever seen at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, says education supervisor Jacinta Early. In comparison, his parents Hudson and Tango each weigh 24 pounds (11 kilograms). Pesto's
global notoriety
has skyrocketed as he continues to grow in size, with over 1.9 billion people following his journey on social media. Recently, Pesto consumed an astonishing 53 pounds (24 kilograms) of fish in a week, prompting Early to confirm that this is a
healthy
intake for a chick his age. As he progresses into his fledgling phase, Pesto's development will stabilize, shedding his brown feathers and adopting the classic black and white feathers of adult king penguins. Keepers anticipate his weight to reduce to approximately 33 pounds (15 kilograms) during this transition. Though he will soon lose his fluffy appearance, Early believes Pesto will retain his charm as a beloved TikTok personality for a little while longer. Currently, Pesto remains a
crowd-pleaser
, drawing admirers to the penguin enclosure during feeding time. Born on January 31, Pesto is the sole king penguin chick born at the aquarium in 2023, following a year in 2022 when six chicks hatched. The absence of chicks in the previous year remains a mystery. Adult king penguins typically weigh between 21 pounds (9.5 kilograms) and 40 pounds (18 kilograms), making them the second-largest penguin species globally after the emperor penguin.