Zoo's runaway starlet back on show

Scarred and subdued, Jin the otter meets her public after her big month out. Picture / Dean Purcell

The cameras were lined up, and finally she appeared - no, not the latest Hollywood starlet, but Jin the otter, who survived a month in the wild.

After hunkering down in her tiny hutch at Auckland Zoo for four days, the reclusive otter finally emerged after a little encouragement from senior zoo vet Dr Richard Jakob-Hoff.

Jin captured the hearts of Aucklanders after escaping from the zoo and popping up in various locations on the North Shore and Rangitoto Island, where she was captured on Monday morning.

Yesterday was her first public appearance since she was found snared in a trap set for her.

She was covered in cuts, and had lost a third of her body weight.

Sitting beside a bright blue plastic bath in her enclosure yesterday, Jin was a picture of calm.

"She's still quite nervous, but getting less so every day," said Dr Jakob-Hoff.

The signs were looking good for Jin's return to the otter enclosure.

Dr Jakob-Hoff said tests had given her the all-clear, and she seemed to be recovering well.

Only small cuts on her head, tail and paw pads - most likely from the scoria on Rangitoto - remain as reminder of her adventure.

Jin is being fed chicken, beef, fish and vegetables to help her regain the kilogram she lost during her busy absence without leave.

Dr Jakob-Hoff said Jin obviously ate while she was on the loose, as she was not dehydrated when she was caught.

He has sent her first faeces to a colleague to help identify what she ate while she was in the wild.

He does not expect further tests will be needed, and says Jin should be able to rejoin her mates in a month.