Silence of the Giraffes

Few stories in the zoological community have been fraught with more drama over the last year than the saga of the Natural Bridge Zoo and its animals.  Late last year, dozens of animals were confiscated from the zoo amid accusations of cruelty and poor welfare, with many of those animals distributed to zoos around the region.  The four most high profile animals at the center of the storm have been the zoo's giraffes - one male, three females - which were recently slated for removal from the facility.  The transfer has been complicated by the fact the two of the three females are pregnant (having become pregnant since after the decision was made to remove them, which I consider extremely irresponsible).  A recent court decision halted the transfer of the three females. 

The male giraffe, however, has been seized by Virginia's Animal Law Unit, and loaded onto a trailer.  He has since been shipped to a facility in Georgia, with the assistance of staff from the Oakland Zoo.  This loading has since been at the center of a fierce controversy.  Gretchen Mogensen, the new owner of Natural Bridge Zoo (and part of the Mogensen family which founded and has run the zoo since its creation) has released a video of the loading and made claims that the ALU and Oakland Zoo staff behaved in an inhumane manner that caused undue stress and injury to the giraffe.  Folks who have weighed in have commented the the Natural Bridge staff was not helping matters and that the giraffe appeared to be in poor shape before it was loaded, the result of the care (or lack thereof) provided by Natural Bridge.  

A veritable army of trolls has been unleased against the Oakland Zoo - and some of the messages I've seen directed against staff have been distinctly threatening.

Of course, who has not weighed in on this has been the Oakland Zoo, despite repeated demands on their facebook page.  That's not because of guilty conscience.  There is still a criminal case playing out here swirling around the zoo and the fates of its animals are still up in the air.  In criminal cases, the defense has the right to remain silent - but the prosecution has an obligation to do so.  I've been involved with confiscations before, and the facilities involved in holding or moving animals are not allowed to make statements to the public.  To do so could prejudice the case.

It must be very hard for the associated vets, keepers, and other staff to bite their tongues while the friends and associates of Natural Bridge insult and threaten them.  I've seen Natural Bridge Zoo's facilities, and I've seen the state of some of the animals from there.  I applaud efforts to remove animals from the care of that family.  I believe the truth will eventually be appreciated by all.