Pesto the King Penguin

The Melbourne Sealife Aquarium commissioned Lukas Kasper to paint a portrait of Pesto the King Penguin.

Pesto was hatched 30 January 2024 at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium and weighed 200 grams (7.1 oz) at birth.[2] His biological father is Blake, another king penguin living at the aquarium although keepers opted to have two younger penguins, Tango and Hudson, raise Pesto as foster parents. Pesto was the first king penguin chick to be hatched at the aquarium since 2022.

At the time of his gender reveal in September 2024, which was broadcast on social media, he weighed 21 kilograms (46 lb), making him the largest king penguin chick to ever live at the aquarium. By that month, he was eating about 25 fish per day and 24 kilograms (53 lb) of fish per week, a healthy quantity for adolescent penguins. As of 23 September 2024, Pesto was reported to be 90 centimetres (35 in) tall and weigh 22.5 kilograms; adult king penguins typically weigh between 9.5 kilograms (21 lb) and 18 kilograms (40 lb). Despite being a chick, he weighs more than his parents Hudson and Tango combined, although he is expected to lose weight after fledging.