Texas ranch searches for missing giraffe Gracie after escape

A three-year-old giraffe named Gracie escaped from Cedar Hollow Ranch in Real County, Texas, and has not been located after almost two weeks. Ranch owner Vic Jones said the animal wandered into a rugged, heavily wooded part of the property that other giraffes avoid, then exited the enclosure on the opposite side of the gate. He has deployed helicopters to scan roughly 7,500 acres and has offered a $5,000 reward for information.

Local officials have warned residents, about 2,700 people, to be alert for the missing animal but emphasized that it poses no danger to people because it remains in remote terrain. “People are not in danger of her because she’s not around people,” Jones said.

Real County Sheriff Nathan Johnson noted that the region’s climate and terrain resemble African habitats where exotic captive animals are kept, and recalled previous incidents of other species, such as wildebeests and zebras, going missing after floods. He said this is the first time a giraffe has been lost in the area.

Jones added that the giraffe should be able to find sufficient vegetation in the area and is unlikely to be threatened by other wildlife. He expressed frustration with the timing of sighting reports, stating that “we’re always two-three days late for where the information is coming from, so that makes it tough.”