帝企鵝佩斯托進入生命的新階段：蛻皮

Pesto 是一隻可愛的巨型國王企鵝幼崽，自 2024 年 1 月在澳洲墨爾本海洋生物水族館誕生以來，它一直成為人類的頭條新聞。

Pesto, the King penguin chick who rose to fame after his birth at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium in January 2024, has captivated hearts around the world with his exceptional size and adorable personality. As Pesto continues to grow and develop, he has recently entered a new phase of his life: molting. In this article, we will provide the latest updates on Pesto's journey and explore the molting process and its significance for his future.

帝企鵝幼崽 Pesto 於 2024 年 1 月在墨爾本海洋生物水族館出生後一舉成名，以其非凡的體型和可愛的個性吸引了全世界的心。隨著 Pesto 不斷成長和發育，他最近進入了生命的新階段：蛻皮。在這篇文章中，我們將提供 Pesto 旅程的最新動態，並探討蛻皮過程及其對他未來的意義。

The Molting Natural Process

蛻皮的自然過程

Molting is a common occurrence for penguins, where they shed their old feathers and grow new ones. This process usually takes place once a year for all penguin species and lasts for about two to three weeks (1, 2). For Pesto, who began molting in late October 2024, this involves a transformation from his downy juvenile feathers to sleek, waterproof adult plumage.

換毛對企鵝來說是很常見的現象，它們會脫落舊羽毛並長出新羽毛。對於所有企鵝物種，此過程通常每年發生一次，持續約兩到三週 (1, 2)。對於 2024 年 10 月下旬開始換毛的佩斯託來說，這涉及到從柔軟的幼年羽毛轉變為光滑、防水的成年羽毛。

Pesto's Unique Size and Development

香蒜醬獨特的大小和發展

Pesto's extraordinary size has been a point of interest since his birth. Weighing less than half a pound at birth, he quickly grew to 50 pounds, becoming the largest King penguin chick ever at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium (1, 3). His size is attributed to a combination of his parents' genetics and excellent care from his foster parents, Tango and Hudson.

自出生以來，香蒜醬非凡的體型就一直是人們關注的焦點。他出生時體重不到半磅，但很快就長到了 50 磅，成為墨爾本海洋生物水族館有史以來最大的王企鵝雛鳥 (1, 3)。他的體型歸因於他父母的遺傳基因以及他的養父母探戈和哈德森的精心照顧。

The Impact of Molting on Pesto's Appearance

蛻皮對香蒜醬外觀的影響

As Pesto molts, his appearance is undergoing a significant change. His once-puffy chocolate-brown feathers are falling out, revealing black and white adult feathers underneath. This process has been described as going "from fluffy chick to scruffy chic" by the marine museum (2). Eventually, Pesto will resemble other adult King penguins, with an orange snood patch on the sides of his bill, a physical trait that will develop once he reaches sexual maturity.

隨著佩斯托蛻皮，他的外表正在發生顯著的變化。它曾經蓬鬆的巧克力棕色羽毛正在脫落，露出底下的黑白成年羽毛。海洋博物館將這個過程描述為「從毛茸茸的小雞到邋遢的別緻」(2)。最終，佩斯托將像其他成年王企鵝一樣，在它的喙兩側有一個橙色的圍脖補丁，這種身體特徵會在它達到性成熟後形成。

Implications and Future Development

影響和未來發展

The molting process is a key milestone in Pesto's journey. Once he completes this phase, he will be largely protected from the harsh sub-Antarctic elements, thanks to his new waterproofed feathers. While this adaptation is less crucial in captivity, it marks an important step in Pesto's development. His new feathering will also enable him to swim with the other penguins at the aquarium, a skill he will master soon.

蛻皮過程是 Pesto 旅程中的重要里程碑。一旦他完成這個階段，由於他的新防水羽毛，他將在很大程度上受到保護，免受惡劣的亞南極元素的影響。雖然這種適應在圈養條件下不太重要，但它標誌著香蒜醬發展的重要一步。他的新羽毛還將使他能夠與水族館的其他企鵝一起游泳，他很快就會掌握這項技能。

Conclusion and Call to Action

結論和號召性用語

Pesto's story is a charming example of the natural growth and development of King penguins. As he continues to captivate audiences around the globe, his journey serves as an educational opportunity to learn about these magnificent birds. If you're interested in seeing Pesto up close, he is currently on display at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium. You can also follow his adventures on social media and purchase Pesto-themed merchandise to support his home at the aquarium (4).

佩斯託的故事是國王企鵝自然成長和發展的迷人例子。隨著他繼續吸引世界各地的觀眾，他的旅程成為了解這些宏偉鳥類的教育機會。如果您有興趣近距離觀察香蒜醬，目前它正在墨爾本海洋生物水族館展出。您也可以在社群媒體上關注他的冒險經歷，並購買香蒜醬主題商品來支持他在水族館的家 (4)。

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