Overview
- Gracie, a 3-to-4-year-old giraffe that arrived at Cedar Hollow Ranch in May, was last captured on a game camera west of Leakey and has been missing through late June.
- Ranch manager Vick Jones says she left by moving into an unfenced area beyond an 8-foot gate after feeding on a hillside where other giraffes do not normally go.
- Search crews including ranch staff and Texas game wardens followed a tip that prompted a search about four miles from the property on Tuesday but the photos tied to the tip were from earlier days and did not locate Gracie.
- The ranch and Real County officials are working with the public for leads and the unnamed owner has posted a $5,000 reward for information that leads to Gracie’s safe return.
- Cedar Hollow Ranch houses several hundred exotic animals and has kept giraffes for more than 30 years, a fact that raises questions about perimeter fencing and the challenges of containing large animals on rural properties.