Sophie Grace, the newest addition to the Calgary Zoo made her debut to the public, with mom, Mardi, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009. (QMI/DARREN MAKOWICHUK)

CALGARY -- The Calgary Zoo's newest addition finally poked her long neck out into the great unknown yesterday, making her first official public appearance since her birth earlier this month.

Sophie the giraffe, born to mother Mardi on Dec. 5, was supposed to make her debut with the public on Saturday, but the shy calf stayed away from the people who gathered to see her until yesterday afternoon.

Now that Sophie has ventured out, zoo staff will allow her to move in and out of the public enclosure on her own free will between noon and 4 p.m. daily this week, though exactly when she chooses to be in the spotlight is up to her.

"From here on in she will be out, but it will be luck of the draw whether people will see her or not," said Zoo spokeswoman Michelle Poisson.

African Savannah keeper Mona Keith said the amount of time Sophie is granted access into the exhibit will increase gradually as she becomes more comfortable with being in the public domain.

She said the calf will also likely get to meet the zoo's two other female giraffes, Carrie and Sherri, later this week and eventually she will meet her father, Tenga.

"We're hoping to do some introductions with the other giraffes this week," said Keith.

"We'll start with the other females and then dad will be last."

Keith said male giraffes play no role in raising their offspring and though Tenga isn't considered a danger to Sophie, he certainly won't help take care of her.

Both mom and baby are doing well, said Keith, and though Sophie stood five-foot-ten when she was born, she still looks tiny next to Mardi.

"She's a petite little girl," said Keith.

"She's putting on weight and she's exploring and like any little kid she's been putting everything in her mouth."

Sophie was named on Wednesday after Enmax Corporation president and CEO Gary Holden made a $15,000 donation to the zoo and was given the naming rights to the calf.

She is named after Holden's daughter.

JENNA.MCMURRAY@SUNMEDIA.CA