Animal lovers around the world have been stunned by the astonishing size of a penguin chick that weighs almost as much as its parents combined.
Pesto the king penguin is a nine-month-old chick at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium who weighs over 22kg.
Their adult parents, Tango and Hudson, weigh 11 kg and 12 kg respectively, while the average size of an adult king penguin is 14 to 17 kg.
When Pesto was born in January, he already weighed 200 grams and has since grown rapidly, partly thanks to his enormous appetite.
He eats four times a day and each meal consists of eight fish.
Sea Life aquarium keeper Michaela Smale said the chick, who is also taller than the other penguins, has a “bold and confident personality.”
“He loves his keepers and is often the first to come chirping to us in the morning for breakfast,” she said. ABC News.
Ms Smale explained that it is essential for king penguin chicks in the wild to gain weight early so they can survive the freezing temperatures of the Arctic climate, as their fluffy brown feathers are not waterproof.
Pesto the king penguin is only nine months old and already weighs twice as much as his parents wanted (pictured: Pesto with brown feathers)
At over 22 kilos, Pesto (pictured) is considered a very large chicken.
Despite this, the Pesto is still larger than many chicks.
“He’s a chubby monkey, but he’s healthy,” Ms Smale said.
Genetics also played a role in Pesto’s dimensions.
“She definitely comes from a family of big babies,” added teammate Jacinta Early;
Pesto’s size has made him a global internet star with videos of the big chick viewed by millions of people.
Social videos have reached 1.9 billion people worldwide.
“I love pesto,” wrote one fan.
Another asked: “Is it possible to know Pesto?”
A third added: “It had to be that big to contain all that awesomeness.”
Crowds have flocked to see Pesto and the colony of 60 king and gentoo penguins (many others are also named after foods).
Pesto has become an online star and has a huge following on social media. He is pictured here with a Sea Life aquarium keeper.
Fans have just two weeks to see Pesto (pictured) in his fluffy brown feathers – he’ll soon lose them and gain his black and white feathers.
But the adoration of the crowds can also be stressful for Pesto and his penguin friends in the -2°C enclosure.
The biggest concern is the crowds banging on the windows and using flash to take pictures.
Pesto’s ‘fluffiness’ will give way to a new summer body, and fans have just two more weeks to see him in all his brown feathers.
Once it enters its feathering period its growth will slow down, it will lose its feathers and gain black and white ones.
Pesto is expected to lose 15 kilos in the coming months.
