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Pesto the Molting Penguin
Pesto, a king penguin chick, is going through molting, a process that involves losing his baby feathers and growing adult feathers. This process is energy-intensive and can lead to weight loss in chicks.
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United Kingdom
EntertainmentLifestyleConservationWildlifeNatureAnimalsBirds
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
PestoHudsonQueenieBlakeHoneySausage
- Who are Pesto's caregivers?
- Pesto's parents are Hudson (adopted father) and Aunty Queenie; other young penguins, Honey and Sausage, show interest in Pesto.
- What is happening to Pesto the penguin?
- Pesto, a king penguin chick at SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium, is molting, a process that takes about six weeks and involves losing baby feathers and growing adult feathers.
- What threats do king penguins face in the wild?
- While king penguins aren't currently threatened, climate change and overfishing pose significant risks to their wild populations; emperor penguins, a closely related species, are already considered threatened.
- What challenges do king penguin chicks face during molting?
- During molting, king penguin chicks often lose weight and may receive less food from their parents; Pesto, being the largest chick the aquarium has ever had, weighed 46 pounds at nine months old.
- What changes will occur in Pesto's abilities after molting?
- Once Pesto's molting is complete, his feathers will be waterproof due to an oil gland, allowing him to swim with other penguins; king penguins can dive remarkably deep, up to 1,443 feet.