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 last year have been found safe.The giraffe calves vanished from the Natural Bridge Zoo in 2025 as state officials investigated allegations of animal abuse. The Office of the Attorney General of Virginia located the giraffes, but did not share specifics about how or where they were found.

The giraffes are now at a professional facility specializing in giraffe care, officials said. Before the giraffes disappeared, state officials were looking to relocate four giraffes at the zoo after they seized about 100 animals during their investigation into the alleged abuse. At the time, two of the giraffes were pregnant and gave birth before investigators visited, but their calves were missing, WDBJ reported.

State officials said the zoo never reported the animals’ births, despite a court order requiring them to do so. open image in galleryTwo giraffe calves that vanished from a Virginia zoo last year have been found safe, officials said (Virginia Office of the Attorney General)Gretchen Mogensen, the co-owner of Natural Bridge Zoo, served a 100-day jail sentence after refusing to explain to the court what happened to the giraffes or to hand them over.The two calves’ disappearance sparked a widespread search, and included radio ads including one where actress Alicia Silverstone offered $50,000 for information about the giraffes’ location.

The animals, now found safe, are receiving medical attention and behavioral support.“This outcome reflects the Attorney General’s commitment to ensuring public safety, protecting our communities, and accountability for those who break the law. Due to the ongoing criminal investigation, no further details can be released at this time,” the attorney general’s office said.

The four co-owners of the zoo face misdemeanor charges in connection with an investigation started by the attorney general’s animal law unit in 2023. Along with the 100 animals seized from the zoo, authorities uncovered 28 dead animals at the zoo. Authorities executed a search warrant on the zoo at the time and discovered animals living dirty conditions without food or water.

open image in galleryThe baby giraffes disappeared as authorities were investigating the zoo on allegations of animal abuse (Virginia Office of the Attorney General)In total, 95 animals were seized from the zoo, including 16 capuchins, 14 tortoises, five lemurs, and two Burmese pythons.Other animals taken under the warrant include tamarins, gibbons, sacred ibis, ground hornbills, kookaburras, macaws, patrons, cockatoos, serval, ball pythons, red-eared slider, a turtle, a skink, donkeys, sheep, llamas and a dog.Deborah Mogensen, Gretchen Mogensen, Karl Mogensen and Mark Easley face a combined 55 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.

Deborah and Gretchen Mogensen and the zoo’s veterinarian, Ashley Spencer, were also charged with forgery of public records, according to the report. Join our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments