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Helicopter Finds Escaped Giraffe, Returns to Texas Ranch

6/28/2026

Summary

Helicopter Recovers Giraffe

A helicopter located the 3-year-old, 1,200-pound giraffe Gracie four miles south of Cedar Hollow Ranch in Leakey, Texas on Friday.
Gracie escaped Cedar Hollow Ranch on June 12, was found near a pond appearing fat and happy, and was in good health.
A veterinarian will sedate Gracie, hood her eyes, and transport her back to the ranch, after which Vick Jones will install a fence around her enclosure.

Summary

Cedar Ranch Keeps

Texas law permits private individuals to own exotic species, which allowed Cedar Hollow Ranch to keep the giraffe Gracie on its property.
The ranch maintains a collection of several hundred exotic animals, including ibexes and antelope, underscoring the scale of private wildlife holdings in the Hill Country.
Sheriff Nathan T. Johnson publicly blamed false online reports, calling the spreaders “idiots in their pajamas,” for misinformation about the giraffe’s whereabouts.

Summary

Jones Hunts Giraffe

Gracie the giraffe was found within a half-mile of a pond and creek, showing the local vegetation provided adequate forage.
Owner Vick Jones offered a $5,000 reward, alerted roughly 2,700 Real County residents, and deployed helicopters to search the remote, heavily wooded ranch terrain.
Jones said fencing will be difficult because the rocky ground requires jackhammering to install posts.

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Helicopter Recovers Giraffe

A helicopter located the 3-year-old, 1,200-pound giraffe Gracie four miles south of Cedar Hollow Ranch in Leakey, Texas on Friday.
Gracie escaped Cedar Hollow Ranch on June 12, was found near a pond appearing fat and happy, and was in good health.
A veterinarian will sedate Gracie, hood her eyes, and transport her back to the ranch, after which Vick Jones will install a fence around her enclosure.

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