Katy Perry and the internet are captivated by Pesto, the chubby Australian penguin chick

Pesto, a large king penguin chick at Sea Life Melbourne, has become a viral sensation, drawing hundreds of visitors to the aquarium. The 9-month-old penguin weighs 52 pounds, making him the largest chick the aquarium has seen. Pesto has gained a global fan base, with even Katy Perry expressing a desire to meet him. Pesto’s gender reveal event and videos on TikTok have garnered widespread attention. Despite his size, most of Pesto’s weight comes from the brown fuzz that keeps penguin chicks warm. Pesto is non-sexually dimorphic, meaning he does not have visible traits that differentiate him from female penguins. Pesto’s parents, Tango and Hudson, along with the keepers, care for him by feeding him 25 fish a day. The average parental care for a baby king penguin can last over a year. The excitement surrounding Pesto’s growth and development has captured the hearts of many, making him a beloved figure both at the aquarium and on social media.

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