Nearly 100 animals have been seized from the Virginia Zoo during an animal cruelty investigation, as authorities find severed animal body parts and 20 dead creatures during their search

Nearly 100 exotic animals have been seized from a roadside zoo in Virginia amid claims the animals were being abused.

Search warrants executed at the Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge County show that 89 live animals were taken, while another 28 deceased animals were removed.

The arrest warrants were issued in connection with the care of and cruelty to animals.

Dozens of animals were found with various health problems. These appeared to live in ‘filthy’ habitats, with many not receiving proper care or sufficient food and water.

The order cites several examples, including deer that were seen fighting each other while visitors fed them food in a pipe system.

On another occasion, a bloated dead goat appeared to have gone unnoticed by staff for more than an hour.

Other live animals taken included lemurs, macaws, pythons and llamas, according to the warrant filed Friday in county court.

As of Wednesday last week, tape was wrapped around the property.

To collect the animals, many crates and animal carriers were brought into the zoo.

According to the warrant, the zoo raid was based on first-hand observations and investigations where investigators “believed that there was a direct and imminent threat to the health and safety of the animals” at the zoo.

Troubling allegations of animal cruelty are detailed in the warrant.

A confidential informant who worked at the zoo claims that the elephant keeper told them that to gain respect from the animals they had to use a bullhook (pole with a metal hook and point).

The keeper made statements such as ‘always prick’ the animals where ‘the bone is close to the meat’.

The order also details several phrases used by the guard, including: “make it count,” “the only reason you hit an elephant is for intimidation” and “you gain respect through fear.”

In the case of the elephant, the informant described the animal, named Asha, living in substandard conditions, sleeping in her own urine and receiving cold baths because keepers did not want to “groom them too much.”

The elephant was chained to a wall and chained, meaning she couldn’t get out of her own dung and urine.

The affidavits stated that Asha, “who has lived as a lonely elephant for decades, has very little enrichment. Asha rocks and rocks back and forth to soothe herself and relieve boredom and stress.”

On June 3, the confidential informant said, Easley said Asha was carrying 166 zoo guests on her back, according to affidavits. The next day she wore 191.

A sign at the zoo’s elephant ride area sets the maximum weight of the ride at 250 pounds. But the counselor ‘regularly’ saw two adults and a child riding Asha at the same time.

The order looked at every single aspect of the zoo, including records of donations (of animals) made or received, records of animal care, veterinary records, animal feed records, veterinary inspection certificates, transportation records, sales receipts, daily visitor logs , communications or documents relating to the care and handling of animals and all digital storage devices, including cameras, computers, external hard drives and mobile phones.

The order included a list of animals with many listed as dead. This included everything from lemurs to birds, pythons, turtles, a donkey and an alligator, according to WDBJ.

Body parts were also noted, including the head, tails and legs of a giraffe, and the legs of a zebra.

Attorney General Jason Miyares’ office is conducting the investigation with assistance from the Virginia State Police.

The Attorney General’s ‘Animal Law Unit’ provides support and prosecution of animal cruelty cases at the request of a local Commonwealth’s Attorney or law enforcement agency,” said Miyares spokesperson Victoria LaCivita.

“As this is an ongoing criminal investigation, we cannot comment further.”

LaCivita confirmed that one of the dead animals taken was a 12-year-old Siberian white tiger named Zeus, who had to be euthanized with the owners’ permission to humanely end his suffering.

The zoo owner’s daughter, Gretchen Mogensen, seemed blindsided by what allegedly happened and was in tears as she spoke to WSLS10.

“They had a search warrant from a confidential informant employed here who allegedly saw what he believed was cruelty, abuse and neglect by all the caregivers and by everyone,” Mogensen explained.

‘All the keepers stayed because they all wanted to provide care to the animals, which speaks volumes for what they do, but unfortunately they will be portrayed as monsters by the state for simply trying to do their job, while the animal protection officers do. will be portrayed as beautiful.”

Mario Williams, a lawyer for the zoo’s owner, questioned the investigation, adding that the zoo would seek to halt any permanent seizure of the 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’ve got to show us all these things. You know, you just can’t go around saying things. And basically without any evidence,” Williams said.

Four giraffes, three females and one male, “have not been seized, but a seizure hearing will take place to determine whether the animals have been cruelly treated or neglected” at a Dec. 20 hearing.

In 2019, the USDA Natural Bridge Zoo issued more than 150 citations for animal handling, sanitation and housing facilities.

A phone call to Natural Zoo Bridge went unanswered Sunday and there was no immediate response to an email seeking comment. The zoo was already closed for the winter.