Nearly 100 animals are seized from Virginia zoo in animal cruelty investigation as authorities find severed animal body parts and 20 dead creatures in their search
Nearly 100 animals – both living and dead – were stolen from a roadside zoo in West Virginia as part of what state authorities are calling a criminal investigation into alleged cruelty.
Search warrants executed at Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge County show 89 live animals were seized and another 28 deceased animals were removed.
The warrants were issued for animal care and cruelty.
Dozens of animals were found with various health problems and appeared to be living in “dirty” habitats, with many lacking proper care and adequate food and water.
The warrant cites several examples, including deer that were observed fighting each other while patrons handed out food to them in a tube system.
A roadside zoo in western Virginia is at the center of a criminal investigation that has resulted in the seizure of nearly 100 animals, both alive and dead.
Search warrants executed at the Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge County revealed that 89 live animals and 28 dead animals were seized.
The warrants were issued in connection with allegations of animal neglect and cruelty to numerous animals suffering from health problems.
Zoo owner Gretchen Mogensen’s daughter seemed stunned by the incident.
In another incident, a bloated, dead goat apparently went undetected for more than an hour.
Other live animals taken included lemurs, macaws, pythons and llamas, according to a warrant filed Friday in county District Court.
The house has been wrapped in crime scene tape since Wednesday of last week.
To pick up the animals, numerous crates and animal carriers were delivered to the zoo.
The warrant said the raid at the zoo was based on first-hand observations and investigations, with investigators “believing there is a direct and present threat to the health and safety of the animals at the zoo.”
Search warrants executed at Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge County show 89 live animals were seized.
Mogensen cried while giving an interview. “They had a search warrant that was hired by a confidential informant here who he said allegedly saw what he believed was cruelty, mistreatment and neglect from all the caretakers and everyone else.”
Local news outlets captured footage of the zoo’s animals being taken away in crates.
Officials worked for days to remove the animals from the zoo.
Some of the confiscated animals were captured on drone footage from aerial views.
State Police were also seen at the scene as animal control officers swarmed the area.
One of the dead animals was a 12-year-old Siberian white tiger named Zeus.
The white tiger had to be euthanized with the consent of its owners to “humanely end its suffering.”
The warrant details disturbing allegations of animal cruelty.
A confidential informant who worked at the zoo claims that the elephant keeper told them that in order to gain the animals’ respect, they needed to use a bull hook (a pole with a metal hook and end).
The Keeper made statements such as “always strike animals where the ‘bone is close to the flesh.’
The warrant also details several phrases used by the keeper, including: “be aware,” “the only reason you hit an elephant is to intimidate,” and “you gain respect through fear.”
In the case of the elephant, the informant described the animal, named Asha, as living in substandard conditions: the animal slept in its own urine and took cold baths because keepers did not want to “coddle it too much.”
The elephant was kept chained to the wall and in shackles, which meant she could not come out of her own dung and urine.
The affidavit said that Asha, “who lived as a lonely elephant for decades, gained very little wealth. Asha sways and sways from side to side to calm herself and relieve boredom and stress.”
On June 3, Easley reported that Asha was carrying 166 zoo guests on her back, the confidential informant said, the affidavit states. The next day she carried 191.
A sign at the zoo’s elephant ride area sets the maximum weight for the ride at 250 pounds. But the confidential informant “regularly” saw two adults and a child riding Asha at the same time.
The warrant looked at all aspects of the zoo’s operations, including records of (animal) donations made or received, animal care records, veterinary records, animal food records, veterinary inspection certificates, transportation records, sales receipts, daily visitor logs, communications or documentation of the care and handling of any animals and all digital storage devices, including cameras, computers, external hard drives and cell phones.
While investigators were at the scene, a giraffe could be seen in the enclosure.
Camels could also be clearly seen in video captured by drones from above.
The Roadside Zoo is located in Rockbridge County, Virginia, near Roanoke.
The warrant contained a list of animals, with many listed as dead. They said they included everything from lemurs to birds, pythons, turtles, donkeys and alligators. VDBJ.
Body parts were also listed, including the head, tails and legs of a giraffe and the legs of a zebra.
The investigation is being conducted by the Office of Attorney General Jason Miyares with assistance from the Virginia State Police.
“The Attorney General’s Animal Law Section offers support and prosecution of animal cruelty cases at the request of the local Commonwealth’s Attorney or law enforcement,” Miyares spokeswoman Victoria LaCivita said.
“As this is an ongoing criminal investigation, we are unable to comment further.”
LaCivita confirmed that one of the dead animals taken was a 12-year-old Siberian white tiger named Zeus, which had to be euthanized with the consent of its owners to humanely end its suffering.
The zoo owner’s daughter, Gretchen Mogensen, appeared stunned by what allegedly happened and cried as she spoke to WSLS10.
“They had a search warrant that was hired by a confidential informant here who he said allegedly saw what he believed was cruelty, mistreatment and neglect from all the caretakers and everyone else,” Mogensen explained .
“All the keepers stayed because they all wanted to take care of the animals, which says a lot, but unfortunately the state will paint them as monsters for just trying to do their jobs and while animal control officers will be depicted as miraculous.”
Mario Williams, a lawyer for the zoo owner, questioned the investigation, adding that the zoo would seek to stop any permanent removal of animals, which he said would be unconstitutional.
“We’re going to fight the criminal charges one by one, show us where the neglect was, you have to show us all of it. You know, you just can’t run around and say stuff. And without any evidence at all,” Williams said.
The four giraffes, three females and one male, “were not seized, but a seizure hearing will be held at a hearing scheduled for Dec. 20 to determine whether the animals were abused or neglected.”
In 2019, the USDA issued more than 150 citations to Natural Bridge Zoo for animal handling, sanitation and housing conditions.
A phone call to Natural Zoo Bridge went unanswered Sunday, and there was no immediate response to an email seeking comment. The zoo has already closed for the winter.