A search is underway for Gracie, a three-year-old giraffe who has been missing for almost two weeks after escaping her enclosure at Cedar Hollow Ranch in the Texas Hill Country. Vic Jones, the owner of the ranch located about 100 miles west of San Antonio, stated on Wednesday that Gracie had ventured into a section of the privately owned preserve that other giraffes had not previously explored.
Jones has employed helicopters in the search for Gracie, and a $5,000 reward has been offered. Despite these efforts, the giraffe, estimated to be as tall as a tree, has not yet been located. Jones explained that Gracie ascended a hillside and rocky ledges inaccessible to other giraffes, and descended on the opposite side of the gate.
The ranch is situated in rural Real County, home to approximately 2,700 residents who have been alerted to keep an eye out for the missing animal. Jones described the search area as highly remote, with a low probability of Gracie encountering humans, emphasizing that "People are not in danger of her because she’s not around people. She’s out in very, very rough, heavily wooded lands."
The Texas Hill Country is known for having one of the nation's largest concentrations of captive exotic animals. Real County Sheriff Nathan Johnson noted that the region's mild climate and rugged terrain are suitable substitutes for the native African environments of many of these animals. Johnson recalled instances of other animals, including wildebeests, water buffalo, monkeys, and zebras, going missing from the area over the years, particularly after floods, but stated this is the first giraffe he has encountered.
Although Central Texas is not the natural habitat for giraffes, Jones believes Gracie will find ample vegetation to consume. He also indicated that other wildlife in the area are unlikely to pose a threat to her.
Initial helicopter searches covered approximately 7,500 acres without success. A few days later, a reported sighting placed Gracie to the south. However, by the time the area could be investigated, she had already moved on. Jones commented on the difficulty of the search, stating, "We’re always two three days late for where the information is coming from, so that makes it tough."