Giraffe Escapes Texas Ranch, Remains Missing After 2 Weeks Despite Towering Height

A giraffe that escaped from a ranch in Texas has been missing for two weeks, the Associated Press reported on June 25 (local time).

The three-year-old giraffe, named Gracie, escaped from her enclosure at a ranch in Real County, located in the Texas Hill Country region, about two weeks ago.

It is believed that Gracie wandered off to a remote hillside within the ranch to feed, then descended on the opposite side of the ranch gate and disappeared into the rugged wilderness.

Ranch owner Vic Jones has deployed a helicopter to search an area spanning approximately 3,000 hectares (30 million square meters) and has offered a $5,000 reward for her return.

However, the whereabouts of Gracie, whose height rivals that of a tree, remain unknown.

Officials stated that because Real County is a rural area with a population of only 2,700 and the search area is extremely remote, it is unlikely that Gracie will have direct contact with humans.

In the Hill Country, a hilly region in central Texas, there have been previous cases of exotic wildlife, such as monkeys, zebras, and wildebeests, going missing.

Real County Sheriff Nathan Johnson explained that the mild climate and rugged terrain of the area are somewhat similar to the animals' native Africa.

He told the AP, "Sometimes we find them, and sometimes we don't."

Ranch owner Jones also expressed optimism that Gracie could survive even if she does not return to the ranch.

He noted that the area is abundant with food sources like leaves, and it is unlikely that other wild animals would pose a threat to Gracie.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.