Page 14 - IAV Digital Magazine #631

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
Search For Missing Baby Giraffes Continues As Natural Bridge Zoo Co-owner Is Jailed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW_CjixKqrA
By Taylor Locke
NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (WDBJ) - Two baby giraffes report- edly born at Natural Bridge Zoo have dis- appeared, prompting a contempt case that has landed the zoo’s co-owner in jail and sparked a national search effort.
The timeline
begins in December 2023, when the Attorney General’s Animal Law Unit seized roughly 100 animals from the Natural Bridge Zoo. In January 2024, 39 animals were returned, but four giraffes remained on
the grounds as prop- erty of Rockbridge County because moving giraffes can be dangerous and complicated.
Before the state could relocate them, two female giraffes became pregnant. By the time investigators visited in April, the
births had already happened, but the calves were nowhere to be found.
Officials said the zoo never reported the births, despite a court order requiring it. When co-owner Gretchen Mogensen was asked in court to explain what hap-
pened to the giraffes or hand them over, she refused.
A judge gave her five weeks to comply, which she did not. Mogensen is now serving a 100-day jail sentence for dis- obeying that order. The state still has no answers about the calves’ whereabouts or condition.
The mystery has drawn national atten- tion. Actress Alicia Silverstone and PETA have stepped in with a $50,000 reward for any tip that leads to the missing giraffes.
While Mogensen has until February to fin- ish her sentence, the Natural Bridge Zoo has closed for the season, according to a sign posted on the front door. WDBJ7 reached out to her attorney for comment and has not heard back as of Monday.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine