A giraffe named Gracie, who escaped from a ranch in the Texas Hill Country nearly two weeks ago, has been located, according to the ranch manager.
Gracie went missing from Cedar Hollow Ranch on June 12. On Friday morning, ranch manager Vick Jones reported that a helicopter flying in the area spotted her around 7:30 a.m., approximately four miles from the ranch.
Jones noted that Gracie is currently situated in a remote area characterized by dense woods and underbrush. He indicated that she appears to be in good health, with ample trees for food and a water source nearby.
However, retrieving Gracie poses a challenge due to the lack of access roads to her location. A veterinarian is coordinating a team to determine the best approach for bringing her back. The plan involves tranquilizing Gracie and loading her onto a trailer, a process expected to take “the better part of a day.”
According to Jones, Cedar Hollow Ranch has been home to giraffes for approximately 30 years. He explained that Gracie ventured into an area typically avoided by other giraffes and managed to escape through an open gate.
“We released her into the canyon,” Jones said. “She actually started going up and feeding in an area we’d never had giraffes feed in before. It’s up on a rock slab, just a limestone slab, and she goes up the hill and went up over the mountain.”
Jones anticipates that Gracie will return to the ranch within the next day or so.
