Giant Australian penguin baby ‘heavier than mom and dad combined’ captivates Katy Perry

The Melbourne Aquarium in Australia has recently introduced a new star attraction: a king penguin chick named Pesto. At just nine months old, Pesto currently weighs an impressive 23.5 kilograms, nearly double the weight of two adult king penguins. With his adorable, chubby appearance, he’s captured the hearts of many, including pop superstar Katy Perry.

Reports indicate that Pesto has taken after his father’s robust physique and consumes about 25 fish a day to maintain his remarkable weight—he’s actually heavier than both of his parents combined. Before he undergoes his upcoming molt, Pesto boasts a soft coat of brown down, and his charming waddle has charmed viewers online, with videos of him accumulating billions of views on social media. Many visitors are now flocking to the aquarium just for a chance to see this lovable little chick.

The aquarium expects Pesto to mature within the next two months, after which his fluffy down will gradually shed. This change will likely result in a decrease in his weight as his appetite diminishes. It’s anticipated that he could lose nearly 40% of his size, but the aquarium remains confident in his sustained popularity.

While king penguins don’t exhibit distinct sexual characteristics, the Melbourne Aquarium recently shared a TikTok video confirming that Pesto is male, which quickly garnered millions of likes. Zookeeper Michaela Smale shared her excitement about this revelation, especially since previous penguin hatchlings at the aquarium have all been female.