Gracie the Giraffe Vanishes in Remote Texas Terrain
A three-year-old giraffe named Gracie has been on the loose for nearly two weeks after escaping her enclosure at Cedar Hollow Ranch in Texas. Owner Vic Jones has deployed helicopters and offered a $5,000 (£3,600) reward for her safe return.
Gracie wandered into a previously unexplored section of the privately owned property, making the search particularly challenging. According to Jones, she fed on an area of hillside and rocky ledges that other giraffes had always avoided. When she came down, she ended up on the wrong side of a gate.
Helicopters and Community Effort in Rural Real County
The search initially covered approximately 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares), with helicopters scouring the area but finding no trace. Days later, a fresh sighting suggested Gracie had moved further south, but by the time search teams arrived, she had disappeared again. Jones noted, “We’re always two three days late for where the information is coming from, so that makes it tough.”
The ranch is located in rural Real County, where around 2,700 residents have been asked to remain vigilant. However, Jones believes the search area is so remote that Gracie is unlikely to encounter humans. “People are not in danger of her because she’s not around people, she’s out in very, very rough, heavily wooded lands,” he said.
Gracie's Survival and Owner's Experience With Escaped Animals
Although Texas is not a giraffe's natural habitat, Jones assured that Gracie should have no trouble finding leaves and vegetation to feed on. He also stated she is unlikely to be threatened by other wildlife. Jones has experience with escaped animals, having dealt with wildebeests, water buffalo, monkeys, and zebras over the years. “Sometimes we recover them, and sometimes we don’t,” he said.
Reward Offered as Search Continues
A $5,000 (£3,600) reward remains available for anyone who helps bring Gracie home safely. The disappearance comes after two baby giraffes that vanished from Natural Bridge Zoo in Virginia were found safe in 2025. Those calves were located and moved to a specialist facility dedicated to giraffe care, although authorities did not reveal where they were found.
