Authorities seized 89 exotic animals and removed 28 that were deceased from a roadside zoo in Virginia amid an animal cruelty investigation spawning from allegations that the creatures were being abused.
Gretchen Mogensen, daughter of Karl Mogensen, owner of the Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge County, told WSLS 10 that the two-day search by investigators caused her animals “ungodly stress.”
“The entire parking lot was full of state troopers, which was alarming enough as it is,” Gretchen, who is also a representative for the zoo, said. “However, when we saw large animal trailers, that’s when panic absolutely sets into your heart.”
(Video: YouTube)
According to the Daily Mail, “Dozens of animals were found with various health problems and seemed to be living in ‘filthy’ habitats with many not receiving the appropriate care or adequate food and water.”
In one case, “a bloated dead goat appeared to have been left for more than an hour having been unnoticed by staff,” the outlet reports.
According to the search warrant, filed in the county’s circuit court on Friday, lemurs, macaws, pythons, and llamas were among the live animals taken from the property.
A 12-year-old Siberian white tiger named Zeus was euthanized as Gretchen stood by his side.
“I stroked his head, kissed his nose, and held his paws while they took the very last breath that he’ll ever have,” she said through tears. “While the cat may have had issues and he was sick, our vet was dealing with it and we had [a] very strong record of what was going on.”
According to the attorney general’s office, Zeus was euthanized with the owners’ consent “to humanely end its suffering upon recommendation by the specialist veterinarian following their examination.”
The decision to raid the zoo was based upon first-hand observations and investigations, according to the warrant.
Investigators believed “there to be a direct and immediate threat to the health and safety of the animals,” it states.
A confidential informant who worked at the zoo accused the elephant keeper of insisting they must use a metal, hooked pole known as a bullhook and jab the animals where the “bone is close to flesh” to gain their respect, the Daily Mail reports.
“The only reason you hit an elephant is for intimidation,” the keeper allegedly said. “You gain respect through fear.”
Asha the elephant was sleeping in her own urine, affidavits reveal. She was given cold baths so as not to “baby” her too much and was kept chained to a wall and shackled.
“Asha sways and rocks from side to side in order to soothe herself and relieve boredom and stress,” the affidavits read.
Asha was forced to carry hundreds of tourists on her back, with little concern for weight limits.
“The warrant looked at every single aspect of the zoo including records of donations (of animals) made or received, animal care records, veterinary records, animal feed records, certificates of veterinary inspections, transportation records, sales receipts, daily visitor logs, communications or documents about the care of and handling of any animals and all digital storage devices including cameras, computers, external hard drives and cell phones,” the Daily Mail reports.
Many of the animals, including lemurs, birds, pythons, turtles, a donkey, and an alligator, were found dead, according to WSLS 10.
The head, tails, and legs of a giraffe and the legs of a zebra were also listed on the gruesome warrant.
Mario Williams, an attorney for the zoo’s owner, vowed he would “challenge the criminal charges, one by one.”
“Show us where the neglect was,” he said. “You got to show us all this stuff. You know, you just can’t run around saying stuff. And without any proof, really.”
“Four giraffes, three females and one male, ‘have not been impounded but there will be a hearing for seizure to determine whether the animals have been subject to cruel treatment or neglect’ at a hearing set for December 20,” according to the Daily Mail, which adds, “In 2019, the USDA issued Natural Bridge Zoo over 150 citations for handling animals, sanitation, and housing facilities.”
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Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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