Why Pesto the Penguin Chick Aims to Be the Internet’s Favorite Big Baby

A remarkable penguin chick named Pesto has captured the hearts of internet users, becoming an unexpected social media sensation. This February-born king penguin chick, who resides at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium in Australia, weighs a staggering 21 kg (approximately 46.3 lbs) at just nine months old. This makes him the largest penguin chick ever seen at the aquarium.

Pesto’s impressive size is a result of a diet including 25 fish daily, alongside some favorable genetics. He is the biological offspring of Blake, Sea Life’s oldest and largest penguin, which gives him a genetic advantage. Furthermore, Pesto is being cared for by Hudson and Tango, a devoted couple of foster penguins.

Compared to his caretakers, who weigh around 11 kg (24 lbs), Pesto’s eating habits are extraordinary; he consumes nearly twice as much as an average adult king penguin. As the only king penguin born at the aquarium this year, his presence has generated considerable excitement.

With a towering height of 28-39 inches and a weight range of 21-40 pounds for adult king penguins, Pesto currently exceeds these dimensions significantly. However, it’s expected that he will undergo several changes in the coming months. He is approaching the fledgling period, during which he will start to shed his fluffy brown baby feathers and replace them with sleek black and white adult plumage. This transformation will also involve a reduction in his size.

The internet’s fascination with Pesto showcases the power of social media in elevating animal personalities to stardom. Recently, a gender reveal event further fueled his fame, as aquarium staff celebrated confirming his male gender through blood tests. Posts featuring Pesto attract thousands of views and comments, with many fans eagerly requesting more content featuring their favorite penguin.

“I need a weekly update on Pesto, please,” read one popular comment on social media. Others suggested creating an Instagram account just for him, while another proposed writing a children’s book about this extraordinary penguin.

Notably, even Katy Perry got in on the fun, sharing Pesto’s story on her Instagram. She reposted a video of aquarium staff enjoying the song “Feels,” leading to a spike in interest surrounding the lovable chick.

Pesto’s popularity continues to flourish on TikTok, where searching for #Pesto reveals over 115,000 posts predominantly featuring him. Videos focusing on Pesto often reach millions of views, with countless comments expressing adoration. Popular sentiments include, “I love you, Pesto!” and enthusiastic comparisons to another viral animal, Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo from Thailand.

Comments on Pesto’s TikTok videos highlight the affection he has garnered, with phrases like “very large, very in charge,” and “I want to cuddle with Pesto.” A comment expressing a desire to meet him has garnered over 25,000 likes, further illustrating how deeply endearing Pesto has become to fans worldwide.

Although Pesto is anticipated to slim down in the upcoming weeks, his viral appeal is likely to endure. The tremendous views, likes, and reactions generated by content about Pesto suggest that this charming penguin, along with his companion Moo Deng, will continue to capture public attention for the foreseeable future.

As this extraordinary penguin chick navigates his way to adulthood, the world is undoubtedly watching his journey. Pesto has not only impressed the staff at Sea Life Melbourne but has also become an emblem of joy for audiences worldwide.

Source: USA Today