Meet Pesto, the Biggest Baby Penguin This Australian Aquarium Has Ever Seen

[Judi Lynn]

Most adult king penguins weigh between 31 and 37 pounds. At nine months old, a 51.8-pound Pesto is already looming over his parents

Sarah Kuta
Daily Correspondent

September 26, 2024 3:39 p.m.



Pesto's fame took off after the aquarium threw him a gender reveal party earlier this month. Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium

In late January, caretakers at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium in Australia were ecstatic when a king penguin chick successfully emerged from his shell. The baby, which they named Pesto, was the only king penguin born at the aquarium in the last two years. He weighed less than a pound.

They’ve since watched as the youngster grew—and kept growing. As of Wednesday, Pesto weighs a whopping 51.8 pounds, according to the aquarium.

As Pesto has grown, so has his fanbase. The massive black-and-white bird has become something of a social media darling, racking up an impressive online following that could rival Moo Deng’s (a now-famous baby hippo born in Thailand).

Pesto has been on display at the aquarium since April, per NPR’s Rachel Treisman. However, it wasn’t until the facility threw him a gender reveal party earlier this month that his stardom really took off. (Humans can’t distinguish between males and females just by looking at them—they have to take blood samples.) Since then, his celebrity has skyrocketed.

More:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-pesto-the-biggest-baby-penguin-this-australian-aquarium-has-ever-seen-180985149/