Social media sensation Pesto the penguin chick begins molting baby feathers, enters 'awkward teen' phase

A viral internet sensation has debuted a brand-new look for his adoring fans to admire the world over. Pesto the king Penguin chick at SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium has begun molting his fluffy baby feathers, sporting what handlers have dubbed a "full body Mohawk." The young penguin has stunned the world with his impressive size, weighing 49 pounds, which is more than both his parents combined. His parents, Hudson and Tango, each weigh 24 pounds. Pesto was born earlier this year on January 31 and has since taken the internet by storm with his 25 fish per day diet. "Pesto's molt is expected this time of year," said Jacinta Early, Education Supervisor with SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium to Fox News Digital. "King penguin chicks molt just in time to learn how to swim for the summer! It's always fun to see the progression as it slightly changes depending on the individual."

"Pesto has had a sweet wizard cloak, a bald patch, a feather boa style and the last I saw it looked like a full body Mohawk. I like to call it their awkward teen phase while they're trying to figure out who they are as they approach adulthood," added Early. When a penguin chick molts, its fluffy brown feathers are shed to reveal waterproof ones that are more sleek to the skin. king Penguin chicks first molting is expected around 10 months of age and the process can last up to 6 weeks. The molting process takes up a lot of energy, so King Penguin chicks rely on stored fat and often lose weight while their feathers are replaced. Oftentimes, penguin parents also reduce feeding for their chicks during the molting stage.

The internet has taken a hit from Pesto's molting, with many users on social media lamenting how the big chick is becoming a big adult penguin too quickly for their liking.