Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
One of the Clovis zoo’s more popular attractions has gone on an adventure.
Jerrica, the zoo’s 12-year-old Rothschild’s giraffe, left Friday morning for the West Texas Wildlife Preserve in Merkel, Texas, where she will be bred with a future barn mate named Hasani.
“While Jerrica is in West Texas, Hillcrest Park Zoo will renovate the current giraffe barn. The pair of giraffes will return to Clovis as soon as construction on the new barn is complete,” said Zoo Director Stephanie Chavez.
Chavez said renovations are expected to take about six months.
Hasani is 4 years old, Chavez said.
The gestation period for a giraffe is 13 to 15 months, according to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.
If all goes as planned, Clovis could be home to three giraffes before the spring of 2026.
“In addition to improving our giraffe barn, we look forward to hopefully welcoming a baby giraffe … in the future,” Chavez said.
