At Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, an extraordinary king penguin chick named Pesto has captured the hearts of visitors and social media users worldwide. Born on January 31, 2024, Pesto has grown to an astonishing size, weighing 22 kilograms (49 pounds) at just 9 months old - twice the weight of each of his parents, Hudson and Tango.
Jacinta Early, the aquarium's education supervisor, reports that Pesto is the heaviest penguin chick ever recorded at the facility. His remarkable size has contributed to his global fame, with over 1.9 billion people viewing him on various social media platforms.
Pesto's appetite matches his size. In the past week alone, he consumed 24 kilograms (53 pounds) of fish, surpassing his own body weight. Veterinarians assure that this quantity is appropriate for a chick approaching adulthood.
As Pesto enters his fledging period, experts anticipate changes in his appearance and weight. He is expected to lose his brown baby feathers, replacing them with the distinctive black and white plumage of young adult king penguins. This process may take one to two months, during which his weight is likely to decrease to around 15 kilograms (33 pounds).
King penguins, the second-largest penguin species after emperor penguins, typically weigh between 9.5 and 18 kilograms (21-40 pounds) as adults. These remarkable birds are known for their ability to dive to depths exceeding 300 meters in search of food, primarily small fish, squid, and krill.
Pesto's birth marks a significant event for the aquarium, as he is the only king penguin chick to hatch there this year and the first since 2022 when six chicks were born. The absence of hatchlings in 2023 remains unexplained.
King penguins are fascinating creatures with unique characteristics. They have a distinctive orange-gold patch on their neck and head and can live up to 25-30 years in the wild. Unlike many other bird species, king penguins do not build nests but instead incubate their eggs on their feet for about 55 days.
These penguins are found on sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, where they form colonies that can contain hundreds of thousands of birds. Their breeding cycle is particularly interesting, taking over a year to complete.
Despite their awkward appearance on land, king penguins are excellent swimmers, capable of reaching speeds up to 12 km/h (7.5 mph). They possess exceptional underwater vision, which aids in hunting, and have a layer of blubber under their skin to keep them warm in cold waters.
As Pesto continues to grow and develop, visitors to Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium have a unique opportunity to witness the transformation of this remarkable king penguin chick. His journey from an oversized chick to a sleek adult penguin promises to be an educational and entertaining experience for all who encounter him.