Jerrica making debut

CNJ staff photo: Kevin Wilson Jerrica the giraffe will be available for her first public viewing Tuesday. Wednesday will mark 7 weeks since she was born at the city's zoo at Hillcrest Park.

Hillcrest Park Zoo’s baby giraffe, Jerrica, should make her public debut Tuesday.

“We did a trial run today,” zoo director Vince Romero said Monday. Romero said a chute has been completed allowing the giraffe access to her mother’s pen.

Jerrica was rejected by her mom at birth has been bottle fed since.

Zoo staff have been working on reuniting the two since Jerrica was kicked by her mother shortly after birth and taken into protective custody.

“Her mom’s pretty curious about her and wanting to get closer,” Romero said. “The baby’s not paying too much attention though; she’s just wandering around exploring.”

Romero said Jerrica will be on display next on the south side of to her mother Jael’s exhibit as soon as the temperature tops 50 degrees.

“If it’s nice like today, I’d guess that would probably be around nine or 10 a.m.,” Romero said.

“At this point, she’ll still go inside every night,” Romero said.

Romero encouraged the public to visit the zoo and meet the new addition.

Romero said. “It was really neat to get her out today,” Romero said. “She’s getting used to it.”