Clovis zoo giraffes together again

There's been a family reunion at the Hillcrest Zoo.

Jerrica, Hillcrest Park Zoo's 10-month-old giraffe, was moved into the same pen Tuesday as her mother. The mother and daughter rothschild-reticulated cross giraffes have been kept apart for safety reasons since Jael kicked the baby soon she was born.

"She's real rambunctious," said Vince Romero, director of the Hillcrest Park Zoo, said of Jerrica. "She'll get tired sometimes and bed down, giving her mom a chance to nudge her, smell her."

Tony Bullocks: CMI staff photo

Jael, left, and her daughter Jerrica have been reunited in the giraffe exhibit at the Hillcrest Park Zoo. Assistant Zoo Director Mark Yannotti said the pair have been together since Tuesday and so far have gotten along great and don't feel there will be any reason to separate, the two haven't been in the same exhibit since sortly after Jerrica's birth in January.

Romero said that Jerrica is used to the visitors, but is still getting to know Jael.

At 8 feet 6 inches tall and 350 pounds, Jerrica is on a giraffe diet consisting of alfalfa, produce, wild herbivore and browser mix.

"She loves to eat alfalfa and produce is her favorite; carrots, apples, pears, celery and sweet potatoes," Romero said.

Tony Bullocks: CMI staff photo

The giraffe exhibit has been renovated and expanded and include central heating and air.

Jerrica is still receiving one 32-ounce bottle each night, but is expected to be fully weaned in the next couple of weeks, according to Romero.

The giraffes have a new enclosure at the Hillcrest Zoo that has been expanded and renovated, and now has central air and heat.