Natural Bridge
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October 24, 2017: The USDA cited Natural Natural Bridge Bridge Zoo for the repeat violation of failing to have attendants or sufficient distance Zoo and/or barriers present during interactions (Karl Mogensen) between the public and animals. The public 5784 S. Lee Hwy., Natural Bridge, VA 24578 was permitted to walk directly up to several enclosures, including a temporary pen with two young llamas. There were no barriers present to discourage public contact, and Natural Bridge Zoo has failed to meet there were no attendants present. The minimum federal standards for the care fencing had spaces large enough for guests of animals used in exhibition as to reach through and touch the animals. established by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Among other issues, the U.S. June 20, 2017: The USDA cited Natural Department of Agriculture (USDA) has Bridge Zoo for the repeat violation of failing cited Natural Bridge Zoo for failing to to provide animals with adequate veterinary provide animals with veterinary care, care. Inspectors observed that a female failing to keep food free from the risk of camel had a large amount of fluid soaking contamination, failing to provide clean the hair on the back of her rear legs down drinking water, failing to maintain toward the feet. A thin trail of the fluid was enclosures, failing to provide animals also noted on the right front leg and was red with dry enclosures, failing to provide in color. The USDA also cited Natural dry bedding, failing to clean enclosures, Bridge Zoo for the repeat violation of failing and failing to provide animals with food to have attendants or sufficient distance and water. In 2015, the Virginia and/or barriers present during interactions Department of Game and Inland between the public and animals. An official Fisheries suspended Natural Bridge with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Zoo’s permit for nearly two months. Service observed that an elephant was Owner Karl Mogensen has been without a handler when the public was assessed more than $20,000 in civil present. The barrier between her and the penalties by the USDA and had his public consisted of either a single-strand exhibitor license suspended on two electric wire fence or areas of livestock separate occasions for 30 days each. panel that were not structurally strong Natural Bridge Zoo regularly advertises enough to contain an adult elephant should animals in the Animal Finders’ Guide, a she choose to get out. In addition, publication in which exotic-animal temporary pens were set up to allow public auctioneers, trophy-hunting facilities, interaction with a young camel and goats. breeders, dealers, and members of the There were no barriers or signs present to public advertise a variety of exotic and discourage public contact, and there were wild animals for sale. Contact PETA for no attendants present. The fences had documentation. spaces large enough for guests to reach through and touch the animals. September 11, 2018: A week after Natural Bridge Zoo notified the Virginia Department The USDA also cited the facility for the of Game and Inland Fisheries that a wattled repeat violations of failing to maintain crane had escaped, the animal was found enclosures in good repair and failing to dead, apparently from hitting a power line. maintain a functional primary enclosure fence. The roof of the building housing Natural Bridge Zoo lemurs had areas of deterioration and a 2- observed in August 2016. There was no foot section that appeared to be sagging. documentation to indicate that this nyala Water was leaking into the building through ever received any veterinary evaluation. the damaged areas. Several areas of the primary enclosure fencing for multiple The USDA also cited Natural Bridge Zoo for animals had trees and vines growing the repeat violations of failing to maintain through, making them impossible to inspect. enclosures in good repair and failing to The roadside zoo was also cited for failing maintain a functional primary enclosure to provide two gibbons with an enclosure of fence. The roof of the building housing sufficient height to allow for normal lemurs had areas of deterioration and a 2- movement such as swinging, failing to have foot section that appeared to be sagging. a safe and effective program to control Water was leaking into the building through rodent populations around numerous the damaged areas. Several areas of the enclosures, and failing to have a perimeter primary enclosure fencing for multiple fence for some portions of the facility. animals had trees and vines growing Several primary enclosures backed up to a through, making them impossible to inspect. country road with no secondary perimeter The facility was also cited for failing to have fence between the animals and the road. sufficient ventilation in a building housing Another section had an area where the lemurs, birds, and rodents. Inspectors noted public could climb up a short rise to get that the building had a strong odor of directly up to the giraffe enclosure fencing, ammonia, and the amount of ventilation and a third area of the facility, which held wasn’t sufficient to remove the odor. the camel and kudu enclosures, adjoined the property of a neighbor, whose dog was August 9, 2016: The USDA cited Natural seen running along the fence adjacent to Bridge Zoo for failing to provide animals the camels. with adequate veterinary care. The attending veterinarian had recommended February 22, 2017: The USDA cited “diagnostics and [a] physical exam” Natural Bridge Zoo for the repeat violation because of a spider monkey’s enlarged of failing to provide animals with adequate abdomen, but the veterinarian wasn’t veterinary care. One male giraffe had an allowed to complete the recommended approximately 4-inch crack in his left rear procedures. Another spider monkey was hoof, and there was no documentation to euthanized after, according to the licensee, indicate that this issue had been observed “going downhill for quite some time.” But by staff. Two female giraffes had there were no veterinary records prior to the excessively overgrown hooves on both front day when the animal was euthanized. At feet. A female nyala was seen standing with least four goats had multiple areas of hair a hunched posture, and her coat wasn’t loss, and a white sheep and a goat had smooth like those of the other nyalas in the visible areas of swelling. The facility was area. The front of her body didn’t coordinate also cited for failing to have a handler with with the rear when walking, resulting in a the elephant at all times when the facility swaying motion. When she attempted to run was open, failing to have an attendant down a slope, her gait was uncoordinated present in the walk-through area, and failing and her front legs crossed each other as to have an effective barrier around many she moved. The instability in her gait enclosures in the walk-through area. caused her to wobble in an attempt to regain her balance without falling over. The The USDA also cited Natural Bridge Zoo for licensee stated that the condition was first failing to have a primate enhancement plan Natural Bridge Zoo that addressed special considerations for ventilation in the building holding five primates showing potential signs of mandrills. Temperatures were in the 90s in psychological distress, failing to maintain the building, and two of the animals didn’t the flooring in the enclosure holding African have access to the outdoors. crested porcupines, failing to have a perimeter fence around several enclosures, The facility was also cited for failing to feed and failing to maintain the perimeter fence tiger cubs properly. Four cubs, who were in other areas. It was covered with born on April 9, 2015, and removed from overgrown vegetation, making it impossible their mother within one hour of birth, had to inspect. been fed a diet that was inappropriate for their age and species, and the one cub still December 15, 2015: The USDA cited remaining at the facility had a rough hair Natural Bridge Zoo for failing to provide coat, a prominent pelvis, and a pot-bellied animals with adequate veterinary care. appearance. Natural Bridge Zoo was also Several had excessive hair loss, and a cited for failing to maintain two enclosures camel had an abnormal gait. The facility used to hold primates (they were severely was also cited for failing to contain a red rusted), failing to have appropriate primary ruffed lemur named Wally, who was able to enclosure fencing for the pigs, and failing to get out of the enclosure and into the “keeper maintain the enclosure holding muntjacs, common area”; failing to have a primate which was overgrown with grass and enhancement plan that addressed special weeds. considerations for primates showing potential signs of psychological distress; April 2, 2015: The Virginia Department of and failing to clean the floor of the walk-in Game and Inland Fisheries suspended freezer. It was dirty, ice had accumulated on Natural Bridge Zoo’s permit to exhibit wild it, and several areas contained frozen blood animals after the second USDA inspection that had dripped onto it. Natural Bridge Zoo of the year found 44 violations of the AWA. was also cited for failing to maintain the (See March 10, 2015.) perimeter fence. It was covered with overgrown vegetation, making it impossible March 10, 2015: The USDA cited Natural to inspect. Bridge Zoo for failing to provide animals with veterinary care. A goat had multiple May 19, 2015: The USDA cited Natural areas of hair loss and appeared intensely Bridge Zoo for failing to provide animals itchy.