A Virginia zoo owner sits behind bars for defying court orders while claiming the missing baby giraffes that landed her there never existed, exposing a brazen case of government overreach against a family business.
Story Highlights
- Gretchen Mogensen serves 100-day jail sentence for refusing to reveal location of missing giraffe calves
- State seized 100+ animals from family-run zoo citing poor conditions, sparking years-long legal battle
- Zoo owner now claims in federal lawsuit that the baby giraffes “don’t exist” despite evidence of births
- Case highlights government seizure powers versus property rights in rural Virginia community
Government Seizure Sparks Family Business Crisis
Gretchen Mogensen, manager of the Natural Bridge Zoo operated by her family since 1972, finds herself halfway through a 100-day jail sentence that began in October 2025. The Virginia Attorney General’s office seized over 100 animals in December 2023, including four giraffes valued at $1 million, citing filthy conditions and inadequate care. Despite the seizure, transport difficulties forced authorities to leave the giraffes at the zoo temporarily, setting the stage for this unprecedented legal confrontation.
Missing Calves Trigger Contempt Charges
State inspectors discovered in April 2025 that two female giraffes had given birth, with afterbirth observed but no calves present. Judge Christopher Russell ordered Mogensen to reveal the calves’ location by October 29, threatening jail time for non-compliance. When the Virginia Court of Appeals denied her stay request, Mogensen surrendered to Rockbridge Regional Jail rather than disclose information about animals she now claims never existed.
Federal Lawsuit Challenges State Authority
Mogensen filed a federal lawsuit in December 2025, claiming it’s “impossible” to turn over “non-existent” offspring and alleging a targeted campaign by state officials. This dramatic shift contradicts physical evidence documented by inspectors who observed afterbirth at the zoo. The Mogensen family previously sold at least 14 giraffe calves over the decade before the 2023 raid, making their breeding operation a known revenue source.
Property Rights Versus Government Power
The case exposes troubling questions about due process and Fifth Amendment protections when government agencies target family businesses. Karl and Gretchen Mogensen were already convicted in July 2025 for impeding giraffe transport, with their resistance allegedly deterring professional movers. One adult giraffe died during transport to Georgia, which zoo supporters blame on state-imposed stress rather than pre-existing conditions cited by officials.
Attorney General Jason Miyares continues pursuing criminal charges through a multi-jurisdictional grand jury while PETA and actress Alicia Silverstone offer a $50,000 reward for information about the missing calves. The surviving adult giraffes now live at a Georgia safari park, but the whereabouts of their offspring remain unknown as Mogensen’s sentence continues through February 2026.
Sources:
Natural Bridge Zoo owner jailed over missing baby giraffes
Zoo Owner Jailed Over Missing Giraffes Says They Don’t Exist
Natural Bridge Zoo manager chooses jail time over revealing whereabouts of missing baby giraffes
