A giraffe went missing in Texas and had everyone joking. Here’s why
Gracie the giraffe has been found after spending nearly two weeks on the run in the Texas Hill Country. Her disappearance quickly became one of the most unusual stories that Texans couldn’t help but joke about online.
As the search continued, humorous posts imagining where Gracie might show up next spread across social media. By the time she was safely recovered, the missing giraffe was the source of memes and jokes across the state.
Here’s a look at how it all unfolded.
How did Gracie the giraffe go missing?
Gracie disappeared from Cedar Hollow Ranch in Real County, about two hours outside of San Antonio, June 18 after wandering onto a rocky hillside where the ranch’s other giraffes don’t typically go, according to ranch manager Vick Jones.
Jones said Gracie crossed into an unfenced area beyond an 8-foot-tall gate before wandering away from the ranch.
Shortly after she disappeared, crews began searching for Gracie, but she kept moving before they could reach her. She was spotted several times on game cameras during the search, but by the time crews arrived, she was already gone.
As the search stretched into its second week, the ranch offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Gracie’s safe return.
Real County Sheriff Nathan Johnson said the search stood out from anything he’d experienced during his decades in law enforcement.
“In almost 30 years of being a lawman, this is my first escapee giraffe,” Johnson told USA TODAY.
What were people saying about Gracie online?
Police departments and other public safety agencies across Texas spread word about Gracie by making some fun Photoshop jokes about where the giraffe could be.
The Fort Worth Police Department shared an edited nighttime image that appeared to show Gracie standing beneath the Fort Worth Stockyards sign with the caption, “IYKYK.”
The Arlington Scanner Facebook account also joined in, posting an edited image of Gracie crossing an Arlington intersection with the caption “This wasn’t on today’s bingo card.”
The Greenville Police Department joked the missing giraffe had become its newest K-9 officer — “Before anyone asks… Yes, we noticed she isn’t a dog. HR noticed too,” the department wrote.
The Lewisville Fire Department shared an AI-generated image of Gracie wearing firefighter gear, imagining the giraffe had skipped the fire academy and reported straight to work.
“San Antonio, you can stop looking. Gracie has officially been found,” the department wrote. “We are keeping her on B-shift until further notice.”
Where was Gracie found?
Gracie’s nearly two-week adventure came to an end Friday, June 28 when ranch manager Vick Jones and Jeff Hill of Concho Aviation spotted her about four miles south of Cedar Hollow Ranch, according to Real County Sheriff Nathan Johnson.
“Mr. Jones has contacted his veterinarian and is putting a team together to safely capture Gracie and bring her home,” Johnson wrote in a Facebook post announcing the discovery.
Once she’s back at the ranch, Gracie is expected to reunite with Atlas, the property’s other giraffe.
Cedar Hollow Ranch is home to hundreds of animals, including impalas, Nubian ibexes and antelope.
