Pesto the Penguin: Social Media Star Weighs in at a Whopping 49 Pounds
Pesto, a king penguin chick at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, has become a global sensation thanks to his impressive size. Weighing a hefty 22 kilograms (49 pounds) at just 9 months old, Pesto is the heaviest penguin chick the aquarium has ever seen, surpassing even the combined weight of his parents, Hudson and Tango, The Associated Press reports.
Pesto’s fame has spread far and wide, with over 1.9 billion people around the world catching a glimpse of him through social media. His appetite matches his size, as he consumed an astonishing 24 kilograms (53 pounds) of fish last week – more than his own body weight. According to aquarium staff, this is a healthy amount for a chick approaching adulthood.
While Pesto’s growth will slow down as he enters his fledging period, he is currently shedding his brown feathers and will soon sport the black and white plumage of a young adult. This transition will also see his weight drop to around 15 kilograms (33 pounds), though he is expected to remain recognizable as the TikTok celebrity he has become for another two weeks.
Pesto, hatched on January 31, is the only king penguin chick at the aquarium this year, and the first since 2022, when six chicks hatched. The reason for the absence of chicks last year remains unclear.
Adult king penguins, the second largest penguin species after the emperor penguin, typically weigh between 9.5 kilograms (21 pounds) and 18 kilograms (40 pounds).
