Ferdinand the “Flirty” African Penguin visits Good Morning Mississippi

GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) – The Good Morning Mississippi crew had a particular visitor Monday morning: “Flirty Ferdy,” a 4-year-old African Penguin who calls the Gulf Coast house.

Diana Main and Brittany Palode with the Mississippi Aquarium introduced Ferdinand to the set. Ferdinand is only one of 11 penguins which can be a part of the aquarium’s ambassador program.

Ferdinand doesn’t stay within the typical setting you may consider whenever you hear “penguin.” African Penguins are a temperate species of penguin, which suggests they’re used to heat climate. Within the wild, many would by no means see snow or ice even as soon as throughout their life; this makes South Mississippi’s setting an amazing place for them to stay!

Penguins are birds, so that they have all of the traits of 1. They really have probably the most dense feather protection of any animal on the planet, with 60 feathers per sq. inch!

“[The feathers] lay on prime of one another like shingles on a roof, and that’s what’s gonna maintain them good and heat and waterproof within the oceans,” Main mentioned. “As a result of despite the fact that they’re from a hotter local weather within the air, the water that they swim in comes up from Antarctica, so it’s very chilly.”

Penguins like Ferdinand spend round two-thirds of their lives within the water. They’ll dive down about 400 ft and keep beneath water for round 5 minutes.

This Friday is the aquarium’s “Hancock Whitney Sea of Stars” fundraiser at Jones Park, which incorporates meals, music, and a drone lights and firework present. In the event you’re dying to satisfy Ferdinand or his fellow ambassadors from the Mississippi Aquarium, you will have an opportunity! A personal, adult-only VIP expertise will happen on the aquarium Friday night, as nicely, and embody upscale cocktails, coastal delicacies, animal encounters, and an amazing view for the present. For extra info, go to the occasion web page right here.

In the event you aren’t in a position to make it to Hancock Whitney Sea of Stars, however nonetheless need an opportunity to satisfy the ambassador penguins, you may as well attend the aquarium’s “Penguins and Pops” occasion, which celebrates October as African Penguin Consciousness month. This occasion will happen October 15 and embody your alternative of a popsicle and a photograph with a penguin for under $12. Extra info may be discovered right here.

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