Natural Bridge Zoo owners return to court as missing giraffe calves are found safe

Natural Bridge Zoo owners return to court as missing giraffe calves are found safe NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (WDBJ) - Several owners of Natural Bridge Zoo are set to appear in court Wednesday as a major development unfolds in the long-running animal cruelty case. The Virginia Attorney General’s Office told WDBJ7 Monday evening that two giraffe calves that disappeared from the zoo in 2025 have been found and are now receiving specialized care at a professional facility. Officials did not say where the calves were located or how they were recovered. The giraffes became the focus of a lengthy legal battle after zoo co-owner Gretchen Mogensen was ordered to serve a 100-day jail sentence for refusing to tell the court what happened to the animals or turn them over to authorities. The case drew national attention, with PETA and actress Alicia Silverstone offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the giraffes’ safe recovery. “These baby giraffes were subjected to the trauma of separation from their distraught mothers shortly after birth, but at long last they’re finally safe and receiving the specialized care that they need, thanks to the tireless work of Attorney General Jay Jones’ Animal Law Unit,” PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch said in a statement. The investigation into Natural Bridge Zoo began in December 2023 when Virginia State Police and the Attorney General’s Animal Law Unit executed a search warrant at the facility following allegations of animal abuse. Authorities seized 96 animals from the zoo. Court documents alleged animals were kept in filthy habitats and did not receive proper care. Investigators also said a rare white tiger named Zeus was euthanized after veterinarians discovered cancer in his spleen, lungs and liver. Natural Bridge Zoo owners Deborah Mogensen, Gretchen Mogensen, Karl Mogensen and Mark Easley face a combined 55 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, according to court records. Deborah Mogensen and Gretchen Mogensen also face charges of public record forgery. Veterinarian Ashley Spencer is charged with public record forgery as well. On Tuesday, WDBJ7 reached out to the Mogensen family and their attorney for comment but did not receive a response. WDBJ7 also asked the Attorney General’s Office whether additional charges could be filed in connection with the missing giraffes. Officials said they could not provide that information, and a check of court records showed no new charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon. Deborah Mogensen, Gretchen Mogensen and Karl Mogensen are scheduled to appear in Rockbridge County Circuit Court on Wednesday on the remaining animal cruelty charges. Copyright 2026 WDBJ. All rights reserved.