SYDNEY (AFP) – Pesto the penguin stands out in his Australian aquarium home, a fluffy brown ball of fur that’s hard to miss as he waddles across the ice.
At just nine months old, the king penguin chick has gained fame for his impressive weight of 23.5 kilograms (51.8 pounds) – roughly the size of an overstuffed suitcase.
Weighing more than both his parents, Tango and Hudson, who are about 11 kilograms each, Pesto’s healthy appetite, which includes up to 25 fish a day, ensures that his round figure will only continue to grow, says senior penguin keeper Emily Thornton.
Thornton mentioned that Pesto’s love for food makes weighing him tricky, as getting him to stay still on the scales is a challenge.
Currently, Pesto is the largest penguin the Sea Life Melbourne aquarium has ever seen.
His thick, fluffy coat of feathers, Thornton explained, helps keep him warm, essential for surviving in the icy Antarctic climate. Despite his fish-based diet, his feathers surprisingly smell like corn chips.
Pesto’s size is also influenced by his genetics, as his ancestors were among the largest and oldest penguins ever housed at the aquarium.
“He’s very healthy,” Thornton assured, adding that wild penguin chicks can grow even bigger.
Soon, Pesto will shed his downy coat as he grows his adult feathers, which will bring a splash of yellow to his head and cheeks, along with the classic black-and-white tuxedo look.
“This process takes a lot of energy, and his appetite will decrease significantly,” Thornton said.
King penguins, found in Antarctica, maintain a stable population with about 1.6 million breeding pairs. However, they were once nearly driven to extinction during the 19th and 20th centuries due to hunting for their meat, oil, and blubber.
