Kate Laurensen is a veteran reporter. She started out covering entertainment news for the local city paper before moving up to the City desk. She studied journalism at San Francisco City College for the Arts.
June 26 , 2026
DALLAS, Texas — Reports circulating this week suggesting that Gracie, a giraffe believed by some observers to have gone missing, were unfounded, according to a spokesperson for the zoo where the animal resides.
In a statement released Friday, zoo officials said Gracie has remained in her enclosure throughout the period in question and has continued her normal daily routine, including scheduled feedings, veterinary checkups, and public viewing hours.
"The giraffe was never actually missing," the spokesperson said. "The reports appear to have stemmed from geolocationary confusion following the recent redistricting. Various online mapping systems and unofficial location trackers were temporarily displaying inconsistent jurisdictional information, leading some people to conclude that Gracie had somehow disappeared."
The spokesperson did not identify which mapping platforms or databases may have contributed to the confusion but said the zoo became aware of the rumors after receiving an unusually high volume of phone calls and social media inquiries.
Visitors arriving at the zoo on Friday reported seeing Gracie as expected.
"I came because I heard she might be gone," said one guest. "Instead, she was eating leaves exactly where everyone said she usually is."
Local officials emphasized that recent redistricting affects electoral boundaries rather than the physical location of landmarks or animals. Nevertheless, they acknowledged that updates to geographic databases and administrative records can occasionally create temporary inconsistencies across digital services.
Zoo staff said they do not anticipate any changes to Gracie's daily schedule and encouraged visitors to rely on official communications for updates regarding the collection's animals.
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