PREVIEW

Viral internet sensation Pesto the King Penguin chick has debuted a brand-new look for his adoring fans to admire the world over.

Pesto, a resident at SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium, has begun shedding his soft, baby feathers, revealing what his handlers affectionately call a "full body Mohawk." At 49 pounds, he’s larger than both his parents, Hudson and Tango, who weigh 24 pounds each.

Born on January 31 this year, Pesto quickly captured the online spotlight, charming fans with his diet of 25 fish a day.

"Pesto's molt is expected this time of year," Jacinta Early, Education Supervisor at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, shared with 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."

Describing Pesto's look, Early added, "Pesto has had a sweet wizard cloak, a bald patch, a feather boa style, and 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."

Molting is a natural phase for King Penguin chicks, where they lose their fluffy brown feathers to make way for waterproof ones, essential for swimming. This molt generally happens around 10 months of age and can take up to 6 weeks, a time when chicks often lose weight as they depend on stored fat.

Social media has been buzzing with mixed emotions over Pesto’s transformation, as fans see their fluffy favourite growing up a bit too fast.

With more than 2 billion views worldwide, Pesto’s online journey is a viral sensation, though his fans eagerly await the final molt stages and his official transformation into adulthood.