Gracie the missing giraffe is found in Texas after 2-week search

Gracie the giraffe was found more than two weeks after she escaped from the farm where she lived in Texas.

The precocious young animal, who authorities say defied the norms of his fellow giraffes by climbing a rocky slab to escape Cedar Hollow Farm in Real County, Texas, was spotted about 4 miles south of the farm on the morning of June 26, according to the Real County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said Vick Jones, manager of Cedar Hollow Ranch, and Jeff Hill of Concho Aviation spotted Gracie around 7:30 a.m. local time while conducting an aerial search for Gracie.

“Mr. Jones has contacted his Veterinarian and is assembling a team to safely capture and bring Gracie home,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. he said.

Gracie, with her distinctive round ears, left the farm on June 11, Jones told USA TODAY. He has since been seen on multiple game cameras at other properties in the county, but was always gone when the area was searched, Sheriff Nathan Johnson said.

Gracie “went on getaways to enjoy the Real County countryside,” Johnson said.

Gracie is expected to return home to her giraffe resident, Atlas. Jones said he worked with a fencing company to make sure she couldn’t get out again. He said the giraffes that have lived at Cedar Hollow Farm for the past three decades have never been to this area because giraffes don’t usually climb rocks.

“He’s pretty athletic for a giraffe,” Jones said.

Gracie’s condition was not yet clear on June 26, but the sheriff’s office released an aerial photo of her among some leaves.

This article first appeared on USA TODAY: Missing giraffe found after 2 weeks of search in Gracie, Texas