Pesto the penguin captivates millions as a viral sensation at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium

Amidst the sea of sleek black-and-white penguins at a popular Australian aquarium, one baby bird stands out dramatically. Pesto, with his chocolatey brown feathers and fluffy appearance, towers over his foster parents and weighs more than both combined. Nicknamed "fatty," "absolute unit," and "linebacker," this chubby chick has skyrocketed to viral fame, even catching the attention of pop star Katy Perry.
Pesto has captivated billions, dominating social media and receiving extensive coverage on breakfast TV across the US and UK, attracting visitors from around the world to Melbourne’s Sea Life Aquarium.

Born in January at just 200 grams (7 oz), the nine-month-old king penguin now weighs an impressive 22.5 kilograms (50 lbs), making him the largest chick the aquarium has ever had. According to Jacinta Early from the aquarium, while it’s normal for penguins to gain "healthy baby chub" after hatching, the size of Pesto was unexpected. “It’s a combination of nature and nurture,” she explains.
Pesto’s biological father is notably tall, but he has also been well cared for by his foster parents, Tango and Hudson, making him appear comically large in comparison. Hand-fed multiple times a day, Pesto has developed a "very healthy appetite," consuming up to 30 fish daily.
Despite his size, Early assures that he is healthy and mostly fluff. As he begins to fledge, he will naturally lose some weight. “If I poked him, my entire finger would disappear into his feathers,” she notes, adding that once he starts to lose his baby fluff, he’ll slim down nicely.

Though Pesto is already shedding some baby feathers, his personality shines just as brightly as his appearance. Described as a social butterfly, he communicates with a "cute little whistle" and enjoys playfully annoying the adult penguins like a typical toddler. Early notes that he often greets the keepers first and even responds to his name. The aquarium staff has enjoyed watching Pesto’s rise to fame, with crowds flocking to see the fluffy chick.

Olivia Wilson, who manages Pesto’s media schedule, humorously compares his appeal to the Australian Football League grand final, suggesting that Pesto might be the bigger draw this weekend. Pesto has been featured in the media across numerous countries, noting that very few places have escaped the Pesto phenomenon, estimating his reach at around 5 billion.

As he continues to gain popularity, Pesto has even been traded like cryptocurrency, highlighting his massive online presence. As Pesto grows, he remains a source of joy and fascination at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium. He continues to receive extra food from his parents, leading to frequent clean-up duties for the keepers, as penguins typically excrete every 15 minutes. Approaching adulthood, Pesto is starting to shed his baby feathers and will soon begin swimming lessons, likely under the guidance of his father.
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