Giraffe calves missing from Natural Bridge Zoo found safe after more than a yearlong search

Officials have not released where the calves were discovered or how they were moved from the zoo.

Two giraffe calves missing from the Natural Bridge Zoo have been safely located after an investigation by the Virginia Office of the Attorney General. Their recovery ends more than a year of uncertainty and legal disputes over what happened to them. 

The calves are now being housed at the Georgia Safari Conservation Park, according to WSB Atlanta. The Attorney General's office said the animals were found through coordinated enforcement efforts and transferred to a facility equipped to care for young giraffes. Officials have not released where the calves were discovered or how they were moved from the zoo, citing an active criminal investigation.

"This outcome reflects the Attorney General's commitment to ensuring public safety, protecting our communities, and accountability for those who break the law," the office said in its statement.

The office said the calves are getting "proper medical and behavioral support."

The search for the Natural Bridge Zoo giraffe calves

Concerns about the Natural Bridge Zoo's animal care began well before the giraffe calves disappeared. In 2023, state authorities seized 96 animals after documenting inadequate care and unsafe conditions.

The following year, owner Gretchen Mogensen was convicted on animal‑cruelty charges, served a 30‑day jail sentence and was restricted from owning certain species, according to NBC affiliate WSLS. The zoo and its four co‑owners faced a combined 55 misdemeanor charges tied to animal‑care violations.

Questions about the missing giraffes surfaced in early 2025. In April, a state investigator and veterinarian reported that the zoo's two adult giraffes had recently given birth, but the newborn calves were not on the property. When asked to account for them, Mogensen declined to provide any information. State officials said they still had no explanation for why the calves were removed from their mothers immediately after birth, noting that young giraffes typically remain with their mothers for about two years.

Mogensen's refusal to comply with a court order requiring her to disclose the calves' location led to a contempt ruling and a 100‑day jail sentence. She was found in contempt again in September 2025 for continuing to withhold information.

As the search continued into 2026, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals joined the effort to locate the calves. The organization partnered with actor and animal‑rights advocate Alicia Silverstone to offer a $50,000 reward for information.

With the safe return of the giraffe calves, the Attorney General's office asks that anyone with further information about the illegal movement of the animals involved call the office at 804-786-2071.