The internet sensation has debuted a brand new look for his adoring fans to admire around the world.
Pesto, a king penguin chick at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, has begun to shed her fluffy baby feathers, revealing what keepers have dubbed a “full-body Mohawk”.
This young penguin surprised the world with its impressive size, weighing 49 pounds, which is more than both of its parents combined. His parents, Hudson and Tango, each weigh 24 pounds.
Meet Pesto, the 49-pound baby penguin that's trending online
Pesto was born on January 31st earlier this year and has since taken the internet by storm with his diet of 25 fish a day.
“Pest molting is expected at this time of year,” Melbourne Aquarium SEA LIFE Superintendent Jacinta Earley told FOX News Digital. “King penguin chicks shed their skin just in time to learn how to swim for the summer. It's always fun to watch the process as each individual changes little by little.”
Staff at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium say the penguin Plague has started shedding its skin, giving it the appearance of a “feather boa”. (Courtesy of SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium)
“The Plague has a sweet wizard's cloak, bald patches, feather boa style, and last I saw it appeared to be a full-body mohawk. I hope they understand who they are. “I'd like to call it that awkward teenage period that they have as they approach adulthood,” Early added.
When penguin chicks molt, they shed their fluffy brown feathers to reveal smooth, waterproof feathers on their skin. King penguin chicks' first molt is expected around 10 months of age, and the process can last up to six weeks.
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Because the molting process requires a lot of energy, king penguin chicks rely on stored fat and often lose weight while their feathers grow. Parent penguins often reduce the amount of food they feed their chicks during the molting season.
Plague's molt has been a huge hit on the internet, with many users on social media lamenting that the large chicks are turning into large adult penguins too quickly for their liking.
A side view of the penguin plague's current molting process compared to a “full-body mohawk.” (Courtesy of SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium)
One viral video shared on TikTok by user @danalamb has more than 2 million likes, with the caption “The plague is growing” and a crying emoji.
“No one will talk to me for 5-7 business days when I need to recover mentally,” one user wrote.
According to SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium, Mr. Plague's content creation has garnered more than 2 billion views worldwide.
It is unknown when the pesto completes its molt and officially becomes an adult, or how much it weighs at the end of the process.
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The king penguin's first molt is an “important milestone” in the waterbird's life, marking its transition to eventually leave the colony in search of its own food.
