King Penguin "Watt" growing up at Moody Gardens

Posted: Friday, October 25, 2013

 

Moody Gardens' little boy is growing up quick and has become the biggest penguin in the Aquarium Pyrami.

“Watt,” a King Penguin named after Houston Texans star J.J. Watt, weighed in Friday, Oct. 25, at 42 pounds, making him the biggest feathered friend at Moody Gardens. He towers over the rest of the penguins on exhibit, just like his namesake towers over competitors on the football field.

When he was weighed just after hatching on March 9, Watt came in at six-tenths of a pound. By Sept. 1, he was up to 34.8 pounds. Moody Gardens assistant curator Diane Olsen said Watt’s huge appetite for fish has helped him quickly grow into the exhibit’s biggest penguin.

Watt is losing his down feathers, revealing his white and yellow feathers which are the trademarks of a King Penguin.

The human J.J. Watt is listed at 6-foot-5, 289 pounds. He and his family have come to check on the penguin’s progress on several occasions.

Watt suffered an injury shortly after breaking out of his shell, but recovered quickly. His toughness earned him the name of the toughest person in Houston

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