Texas ranch offers $5,000 reward for missing giraffe

Authorities in Texas are searching for a missing giraffe named Gracie, who escaped from a ranch in the Hill Country and has been on the loose for nearly two weeks. The Real County Animal Rescue/Shelter announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to her safe return.

Gracie disappeared from Cedar Hollow Ranch, located near Leakey in Real County, approximately 100 miles northwest of San Antonio. According to ranch manager Vick Jones, the giraffe escaped roughly a week and a half ago after feeding on a hillside, wandering through an unfenced area and past an eight-foot-tall gate. She was last seen on a game camera west of Leakey. A tip received on Tuesday did not lead searchers to the animal, and the search remains active.

Gracie is described as a female reticulated giraffe, between three and four years old, with distinctive rounded ears. She is one of two giraffes on the property, which houses several hundred exotic animals. Jones noted that while several young male giraffes had previously escaped through an open gate, they returned during a storm.

The unusual disappearance has drawn significant attention online, with many social media users expressing puzzlement over how such...