A Texas Giraffe Went Rogue For Two Weeks. Then The Search Began.

For two weeks, a 10-foot-tall, 1,200-pound giraffe named Gracie decided the grass was, in fact, greener on the other side of the fence. Specifically, about four miles south of her enclosure at Cedar Hollow Ranch in Texas Hill Country. Because, apparently, even giraffes need a little "me time" occasionally.

Gracie, a three-year-old, decided to embark on her solo adventure from a private ranch about 100 miles west of San Antonio. When she didn't return from her usual tree-snacking spot, owner Vick Jones realized he had a very large, very long-necked problem on his hands. This wasn't just a lost housecat; this was a lost housecat who could look over most single-story buildings.

The Great Giraffe Hunt

Sheriff Nathan Johnson, who's seen his share of missing exotic animals — wildebeests, zebras, even monkeys — confirmed this was his first giraffe rodeo. The search involved an aerial sweep of the rugged, remote terrain, which is apparently where Gracie was spotted, chilling near a pond and creek, munching on a buffet of vegetation. She was, according to Jones, in excellent shape, standing tall and swishing her tail, clearly living her best life.

Bringing a 1,200-pound giraffe home isn't quite as simple as luring her with a treat. It required a team, a vet, sedation, a hood over her eyes (for calm, not fashion), an open-pasture trailer, and then a specially designed, extra-tall enclosed trailer for the main journey. All because Gracie, after her snack, apparently found it easier to just keep walking forward than to turn around and navigate back through a rocky area that, up until now, giraffes hadn't bothered with.

Jones now plans to build a fence in that specific area, which, given the rocky landscape, sounds like a job for a professional rock-breaker. Until then, Gracie will be staying put in her main enclosure. Because, as charming as a rogue giraffe sounds, it's probably best for everyone involved if she sticks to the designated grazing areas.