CLOVIS, N.M. (KRQE) – The Hillcrest Park Zoo in Clovis will be without its signature giraffe for a short time, but it’s all so the zoo can have more in the future.
The Hillcrest Park Zoo announced their only giraffe, 12-year-old Jerrica, is being relocated to Merkel, Texas, just west of Abilene on I-20.
There, she will be introduced to four-year-old Hasani. The zoo is hoping the two will mate before returning to Clovis.
“The more giraffes we have, the bigger the yard will become. We can always expand the barn as we go. Right now, for our future, I only see Jerrica with Hasani and a baby, and I do see her breeding in the future. I see this zoo successfully breeding them,” said Stephanie Chavez with the zoo.
Renovations are being done on Jerrica’s barn to accommodate more giraffes, and the zoo expects those renovations to be done in the next six months. If all goes well, the zoo expects Jerrica and Hasani to have their baby in 2026.
The news comes about a year after Jerrica’s mom passed away.