Gracie, the giraffe whose disappearance sparked a widespread search and inspired social media memes across Texas, has been found safe after nearly two weeks roaming the Texas Hill Country.
The giraffe was located shortly before 7 a.m. Friday during an aerial search about four miles from Cedar Hollow Ranch near Leakey, where she escaped earlier this month, according to owner Vick Jones and the Real County Sheriff’s Office.
Jones told NBC 5 DFW that Gracie appeared to be in good condition and was found on private ranch land with ample food and water.
“She looked happy and healthy,” Jones said.
Search Ends, Recovery Begins
Although locating the giraffe marked a major milestone, Jones said the more challenging task now is bringing her home safely.
He said crews will need to assemble a specialized team to corral Gracie, tranquilize her, and load her onto a transport trailer before returning her to Cedar Hollow Ranch.
The ranch had offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Gracie’s safe capture and return.
How Gracie Escaped
Jones said Gracie wandered away after climbing onto a rocky hillside that the ranch’s other giraffes typically avoid.
She eventually reached an unfenced area beyond an 8-foot gate and left the property.
Before she was found, helicopters searched roughly 7,500 acres of private ranchland without success. Search teams later followed additional reports that Gracie had been spotted farther south, but she had already moved on by the time they arrived.
A game camera west of Leakey eventually captured images of the giraffe, helping narrow the search area before Friday’s successful aerial sighting.
Social Media Followed Every Step
Gracie’s disappearance quickly gained attention online, where users shared jokes and edited photos showing the giraffe appearing in famous Texas locations, including the San Antonio River Walk, and floating on the Frio River near Garner State Park.
Despite the lighthearted posts, search teams continued working across the rugged Hill Country landscape to locate the animal safely.
About Gracie and Cedar Hollow Ranch
Jones said Gracie is approximately 3 to 4 years old, stands between 10 and 11 feet tall, and arrived at Cedar Hollow Ranch in May.
The ranch houses hundreds of exotic animals, including impalas, Nubian ibexes, and African antelopes. Gracie is one of only three giraffes on the property.
Exotic Escapes Not Uncommon in the Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is home to one of the nation’s largest concentrations of privately owned exotic animals, thanks in part to its climate and terrain, which resemble parts of Africa.
Real County Sheriff Nathan Johnson said his office has responded to numerous reports of escaped exotic animals over the years.
“I’ve had wildebeests, I’ve had water buffalo, I’ve had monkeys, I’ve had zebras all go missing,” Johnson said. “Sometimes we recover them, and sometimes we don’t.”
Johnson added that Gracie was the first missing giraffe he had encountered during his time in office.
Officials have not announced when Gracie will be transported back to Cedar Hollow Ranch, but efforts to safely recover her are now underway.
