In late January, caretakers at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium in Australia were ecstatic when a king penguin chick successfully emerged from his shell. The baby, which they named Pesto, was the only king penguin born at the aquarium in the last two years.

Pesto the giant nine-month-old penguin chick is remarkably calm, curious and friendly. Moments after we walk onto the ice, he appears, waddling behind his father, and stops a metre away, almost ready for his close-up.