Boo back at Hillcrest Park Zoo

The Hillcrest Park Zoo in Clovis brings back its seventh annual Boo in the Zoo from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

“We are expecting 5,000 people to attend and get to know our two new animal additions,” said Interim Zoo Director Stephanie Chavez.

Chavez said this would be her first Boo in the Zoo. “We are just here for the guests, and we are pretty excited about it.”

The new animal additions include coatis, relatives of the raccoon family, which are on display now. “They are 11 weeks old and still babies,” Chavez said.

Ostriches made their debut earlier this week.

About 40 vendors are expected for the gathering, which will also include voting for names of the new wallabies calling New Mexico’s second-largest zoo home.

The naming contest will continue until Nov. 2., said Megan Darrow, Clovis’ marketing and grants coordinator.

“Wallabies are members of the kangaroo clan found primarily in Australia and on nearby islands,” according to National Geograhic.

A “penny war” will determine the name of the animals. Darrow said people can bring their pennies, vote in the zoo’s gift shop.

“The name with the most pennies will win,” she said.

Darrow said some wallaby names include Johnny and June, Ava and Wallaby, and Walla Drew. “The point of the contest is to get the community involved in naming the animals and increasing attendance to the zoo,” she said.