Missing giraffe Gracie prompts $5,000 reward in Texas ranch search

A reticulated giraffe named Gracie vanished from Cedar Hollow Ranch near Leakey, Texas, about ten days ago, according to ranch manager Vick Jones. The animal was last captured on a game camera west of the property and has not been located since. The Real County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert on Monday, drawing attention beyond the small Hill Country community. > "The owner is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to Gracie’s capture and safe return," Jones said. Gracie, estimated to be 3.5 to 4 years old, arrived at the privately owned breeding facility in May. The ranch, which has kept giraffes for more than three decades, described the animal’s behavior as unusual, noting she had been observed reaching for tree limbs on a steep rock slab before crossing a gate and entering surrounding Hill Country terrain. While the ranch has experienced previous escapes involving young male giraffes, those incidents ended when a storm forced the animals back to the barn.