Denver happily munched carrots Tuesday morning during Reid Park Zoo's daily Giraffe Encounter event, for the first time since she was fed poisonous plants nine days earlier.
Though Denver's condition has improved, zoo officials continue to monitor her closely.
Giraffe Encounters allow zoo visitors to hand-feed the animals for a small fee, and Denver will be out as long as she's feeling up to it.
"She had a whole bunch of carrots," said Vivian VanPeenen, the zoo's curator of education.
Denver is eating and drinking but did not eat overnight. Her kidney and bowel functions have yet to return to normal, VanPeenen said.
Denver, 20, and the zoo's lone male giraffe, 6-year-old Watoto, were fed toxic oleander cuttings July 18 by an apprentice zookeeper who has since resigned. Emergency measures were taken, but later that day Watoto's heart stopped.
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Giraffe Encounters
Visitors can get up close with the three Reid Park Zoo giraffes, Denver, Elinor and Texas, during daily Giraffe Encounters. The cost: $2 (plus the price of admission).
Through the end of August, Giraffe Encounter hours are 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. weekdays, and 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on weekends. Go to the zoo's website, www.tucsonzoo.org for more information.
Contact reporter Kimberly Matas at kmatas@azstarnet.com or at 573-4191.
