Two Baby Giraffes Who Went Vanished From A Virginia Zoo A Year Ago Are Found Safe

Two baby giraffes who went missing from a Virginia zoo past twelvemonth person been recovered safe.

The giraffe calves vanished from nan Natural Bridge Zoo successful 2025 arsenic authorities officials investigated allegations of animal abuse.

The Office of nan Attorney General of Virginia located nan giraffes, but did not stock specifics astir really aliases wherever they were found. The giraffes are now astatine a master installation specializing successful giraffe care, officials said.

Before nan giraffes disappeared, authorities officials were looking to relocate 4 giraffes astatine nan zoo aft they seized astir 100 animals during their investigation into nan alleged abuse. At nan time, 2 of nan giraffes were pregnant and gave commencement earlier investigators visited, but their calves were missing, WDBJ reported.

State officials said nan zoo ne'er reported nan animals’ births, contempt a tribunal bid requiring them to do so.

Gretchen Mogensen, nan co-owner of Natural Bridge Zoo, served a 100-day jailhouse condemnation aft refusing to explicate to nan tribunal what happened to nan giraffes aliases to manus them over.

The 2 calves’ disappearance sparked a wide search, and included power ads including 1 wherever character Alicia Silverstone offered $50,000 for accusation astir nan giraffes’ location.

The animals, now recovered safe, are receiving aesculapian attraction and behavioral support.

“This result reflects nan Attorney General’s committedness to ensuring nationalist safety, protecting our communities, and accountability for those who break nan law. Due to nan ongoing criminal investigation, nary further specifications tin beryllium released astatine this time,” nan lawyer general’s agency said.

The 4 co-owners of nan zoo look misdemeanor charges successful relationship pinch an investigation started by nan lawyer general’s animal rule portion successful 2023.

Along pinch nan 100 animals seized from nan zoo, authorities uncovered 28 dormant animals astatine nan zoo. Authorities executed a hunt warrant connected nan zoo astatine nan clip and discovered animals surviving successful soiled conditions without nutrient aliases water.

In total, 95 animals were seized from nan zoo, including 16 capuchins, 14 tortoises, 5 lemurs and 2 Burmese pythons.

Other animals taken nether nan warrant see tamarins, gibbons, ineffable ibis, crushed hornbills, kookaburras, macaws, patrons, cockatoos, serval, shot pythons, red-eared slider, a turtle, a skink, donkeys, sheep, llamas and a dog.

Deborah Mogensen, Gretchen Mogensen, Karl Mogensen and Mark Easley look a mixed 55 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.

Deborah and Gretchen Mogensen and nan zoo’s veterinarian, Ashley Spencer, were besides charged pinch forgery of nationalist records, according to nan report.