The internet is useful for many things and over the years one specific topic has always managed to spread positivity no matter what platform that’s frequented most – baby animals. This goes around, there are two specific zoo babies that have captured the hearts of many: Pesto the king penguin chick and Moo Deng the pygmy hippopotamus calf. Both have garnered fame for their looks, charming personalities and of course, their pure cuteness factor.
Pesto the penguin hatched in January at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium in Australia but only recently gained notoriety in September for his ever-increasing and unusually large size as an infant. At about 50 pounds, Pesto significantly outweighs his penguin foster fathers, Hudson and Tango, who are about 24 pounds each, while still being covered in his fluffy brown baby feathers. He eats twice as much as the average grown penguin and has been subject to loads of attention and adoration since his rise to fame, even receiving a visit from popstars Olivia Rodrigo and Katy Perry to his enclosure. It’s safe to say that Pesto is living his best life and everyone can’t wait to see if he gets even bigger after he molts.
Moo Deng the hippo was born at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand in July and much like her super-star counterpart, raised to fame almost three months later in September. Her name in Thai directly translates to “Bouncy Pig”, which is quite accurate considering her rotund baby size and her energetic nature. Nothing more than pictures and videos of the pygmy calf’s feisty nature made her a social media sensation, her shameless demands of attention from her handlers only to turn and maw at them with her gummy mouth capturing the adoring attention of many. One day she will be as big as her mother, Jonah, but for now, she seems happy enough to be the size of a bouncy pig.
With everything that happens around the world and the stresses of both work and social life, it’s free to take a few minutes to relax and enjoy the silly antics of a few chubby baby animals. While there’s no doubt that puppies and kittens are cute in their own right, Pesto and Moo Deng take the cake as the most adorable celebrities of this year.
