Pesto's Rise to Fame
, a nine-month-old king penguin chick, has become a global sensation due to his massive size, weighing 46 pounds, and his unique fluffy appearance, which contrasts with the sleek adult penguins.
His popularity surged after a gender reveal event confirmed him as a male, further captivating online audiences and contributing to over 1.9 billion global views on social media.
Aquarium and Care
Pesto's diet consists of up to 25 fish a day, contributing to his significant weight. The aquarium staff, including senior keeper Michaela Smale, emphasize his healthy appetite and genetic factors as key to his size.
Despite concerns about his weight, aquarium staff, including education supervisor Jacinta Early, assert that Pesto is healthy, attributing his bulk to being a "big baby" and not overweight.