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Library/Moment/Pesto the Penguin
Grade B32 sourcesHIS-00341

Pesto the Penguin

Moment · 2024 · Viral

60Editable slideCertificate

Aquarium staff estimated Pesto's reach at 5 billion as fan clips and memes spread.

Original · SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium / Herald Sun

Kelly Albert

@kelly_albert · Sep 20, 2024

There is a 9 month old penguin at the Melbourne aquarium named Pesto who is 21kg which is an absolute unit of a baby penguin. And I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole of watching videos of this giant baby penguin. I love him so… 🥹

1662
Post · @kelly_albert on X
Clip · @brookesneddon on TikTok
Clip · @gentlebl0ke on TikTok
Clip · @livbedumb on TikTok
Clip · @squincx on TikTok
Clip · @sealifemelbourneaquarium on TikTok
Trusted news for Victoria on Instagram: "Pesto the penguin has just broken a record at @sealifemelbourneaquarium becoming the centre’s biggest ever chick, weighing in at 20kg! 🐧❤️ #penguin…
Trusted news for Victoria on Instagram
Baby penguin Pesto at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
User:HoseIsFaucet / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Our baby King Penguin Pesto is a...
@sealifemelbourneaquarium on TikTok
@SEA LIFE Melbourne #pesto #pestothebabypenguin #penguin #babypenguin
@brookesneddon on TikTok
pesto-1
TIME
There is a 9 month old penguin at the Melbourne aquarium named Pesto who is 21kg which is an absolute unit of a baby penguin. And I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole of watching videos of this giant…
@kelly_albert on X
Moo Deng vs. Pesto the Penguin #moodeng #babyhippo #pesto #penguin #new
@gentlebl0ke on TikTok
TikTok video by @livbedumb
@livbedumb on TikTok
pesto
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
Cute baby animals bring visitors to zoos and aquariums. What happens when they grow up? | CNN
CNN
TikTok video by @squincx
@squincx on TikTok
Pesto the Penguin Waddles Into the Art History Canon
Hyperallergic

Spread Score

How it works
Reach65ContagionNo data yetBreadth90Velocity47Longevity2760

Numbers

Aquarium estimate of Pesto's audience; methodology undisclosed
5B
As of Sep 24, 2024 · Self-reported · BBC News
Seed to peak
8 weeks
Jul 30 ’24 to Sep 27 ’24
Platforms
7
Started on Instagram
Origin
Seeded
Entertainment

Mechanics

  • Creator relayPrimary
  • Platform jump
  • Press loop
  • Response chain
  • Pairing

How it spread

Trace the origin

An aquarium reel showed Pesto towering over adult penguins. Visitor clips, Moo Deng comparisons and fan art spread across TikTok, X and Instagram. Celebrity visits followed, while the aquarium reported record attendance and merchandise sell-outs.

Wikipedia views · Google searchesMar ’24MayAugOctNovJan ’25MarAugFeb ’26JulPeakOpen webInstagramTikTokPressXTVRetail
Open webInstagramTikTokPressXTVRetail

13 more events on this chart

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Timeline (16)

  1. March 2024

    Merlin Entertainments precursor · Mar 28 ’24

    Merlin announced Pesto and invited aquarium guests to see the chick in its nursery.[1]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. July 2024

    Herald Sun / SEA LIFE Melbourne seed · Jul 30 ’24

    The aquarium and Herald Sun posted a reel showing Pesto as their biggest ever chick.[2][3]

    Trusted news for Victoria on Instagram: "Pesto the penguin has just broken a record at @sealifemelbourneaquarium becoming the centre’s biggest ever chick, weighing in at 20kg! 🐧❤️ #penguin…

  3. September 2024

    SEA LIFE Melbourne owner response · Sep 5 ’24

    The aquarium held a cake-cutting party to reveal that Pesto was male.[4]

Changelogupdated Oct 12 ’26
  1. 2026-10-12Added: 16 events, 20 sources · Score 55
Origin
Seeded
Sector
Entertainment
Region
AU
Aquarium estimate of Pesto's audience; methodology undisclosed
5B
As of Sep 24, 2024 · Self-reported · BBC News
Evidence
Grade B

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78.4M impressions

New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.

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Wikipedia views · Google searchesMar ’24MayAugOctNovJan ’25MarAugFeb ’26JulPeakOpen webInstagramTikTokPressXTVRetail
Open webInstagramTikTokPressXTVRetail

13 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

  1. March 2024

    Merlin Entertainments precursor · Mar 28 ’24

    Merlin announced Pesto and invited aquarium guests to see the chick in its nursery.[1]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. July 2024

    Herald Sun / SEA LIFE Melbourne seed · Jul 30 ’24

    The aquarium and Herald Sun posted a reel showing Pesto as their biggest ever chick.[2][3]

    Trusted news for Victoria on Instagram: "Pesto the penguin has just broken a record at @sealifemelbourneaquarium becoming the centre’s biggest ever chick, weighing in at 20kg! 🐧❤️ #penguin…

  3. September 2024

    SEA LIFE Melbourne owner response · Sep 5 ’24

    The aquarium held a cake-cutting party to reveal that Pesto was male.[4]

  1. owner response · Sep 12 ’24

  2. platform jump · Sep 13 ’24

Join free to see the other 13 events and the full chart. Free, on every case.

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Why it worked

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