A missing giraffe in rural Texas is still on the loose, despite online reports claiming she had been found.
Gracie, a 3-year-old reticulated giraffe, escaped from Cedar Hollow Ranch near Leakey nearly two weeks ago after wandering through the wrong side of a gate while reaching for tree leaves.
Real County Sheriff Nathan Johnson said rumors circulating online that Gracie had been safely recovered are false.
“The giraffe has not been located. It’s still at large,” Johnson said, criticizing the spread of unverified information online.
Gracie’s disappearance has captured widespread attention, with the ranch offering a $5,000 reward and using helicopters and drones in the search. Local authorities have also asked nearby landowners to watch for the towering animal.
While exotic animals such as zebras, monkeys and wildebeests have escaped area game ranches before, the sheriff said this is the first missing giraffe he’s ever had to track.
A local television station briefly reported Tuesday that Gracie had been found, but later retracted the story after it could not be confirmed. The search continues.
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