Meet Pesto, the world’s fattest penguin. This cute king penguin chick living at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is the internet’s latest celebrity and get this, as fat as he is, Pesto is only nine months old. If you’re wondering how he got so chubby, well, Pesto gorges on 25 fish per day, and not surprisingly, it has fueled his growth.
Pesto Weighs More than an Average King Penguin

At only nine months old, Pesto weighs a whopping 46 pounds (about 21 kilograms), making him the largest chick the aquarium has ever seen. While most king penguins his age weigh significantly less, Pesto’s hearty appetite and excellent genetics have put him in a league of his own.
Pesto’s Home: Sea Life Melbourne
Pesto’s home is the famous Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium in Australia, where he has become a true celebrity. Visitors flock to the penguin exhibit to catch a glimpse of this fluffy giant. And it’s no wonder—Pesto stands out from the crowd not only because of his size but also because he’s the only king penguin chick born at the aquarium in 2024. His journey to stardom began in April, but it was his September gender reveal that made headlines, drawing even more attention to this larger-than-life penguin.
How Does a Penguin Get So Big?

What’s the secret to Pesto’s impressive girth? Fish—and lots of it. This growing penguin downs about 25 fish per day, a feast that fuels his rapid growth. In one week, Pesto reportedly consumed 53 pounds of fish, more than his own body weight! According to the aquarium’s staff, Pesto’s biological father, Blake, is the largest penguin at the aquarium, and those big-penguin genes rubbed off on his son. For now, Pesto is enjoying his bulk, but he’s expected to slim down once he grows into his adult feathers.
Penguin Parenthood: The Role of Pesto’s Surrogate Parents
Pesto isn’t just a biological wonder; he’s also a testament to the success of penguin fostering. While his biological father Blake is a proud dad, Pesto is being raised by two foster penguins, Tango, and Hudson, who took on the parental duties. The aquarium staff paired these penguins to give them a shot at parenthood, and Pesto has thrived under their care. With such a supportive family, it’s no wonder Pesto has become an internet sensation.
The Internet’s latest chubby Baby

Pesto’s fame is not confined to the walls of Sea Life Melbourne. He’s a social media superstar with fans from around the world. A TikTok video of Pesto waddling around alongside other penguins garnered millions of views, and his gender reveal video—complete with a blue-iced cake—racked up hundreds of thousands of likes. Commenters can’t get enough of him, with some even proclaiming, “Not to be dramatic, but I would die for Pesto!”
What’s Next for the World’s Fattest Penguin?
While Pesto is enjoying his time as the internet’s favorite “big baby,” his story is far from over. Soon, he will lose his fluffy brown feathers as he matures into an adult king penguin, and with that, he will likely shed some of his famous weight. But until then, Pesto remains a symbol of cuteness, good parenting, and a voracious appetite—everything the internet loves in one feathered package!
Pesto is living proof that in the world of penguins, bigger is better, and we can’t wait to see what he’ll do next! Watch this video of Pesto below.
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