Last week, the Humane Society of the United States released results of an undercover effort at the Natural Bridge Zoo. That group wants the federal government to close the place after several animals died. It’s also asking that the owner be prosecuted for cruelty to animals, but Karl Mogenson insists the zoo did nothing.
The zoo is routinely closed over the winter, but last summer hundreds of people had the chance to see a couple of baby tigers up close.
“I’m so excited --- look, look! See that?”
Ann Sullivan of Lexington brought her granddaughters to be photographed with the cubs.
“I think it’s awesome to have a safe, beautiful place for us to come and see these animals where they’re really greatly cared for. We love this zoo. We’re so proud that we have it in our area.”
Cat keeper Gretchen Mogenson, the zoo owner’s daughter, has been working with wild animals since she was 15. She dismisses critics who say the handling of cubs began when it was unsafe for the animals and lasted until it was unsafe for the public.
“My first priority is the happiness and well-being of my cub. Once we’ve got the cub happy, then you can come into the room. Then we’re worried about your safety. Your happiness with your photo is my third priority.”
She says the baby tigers had been vaccinated before they were exposed to the public, and people who held them for photos were required to wash their hands.
Outside the tigers’ lair, an African elephant gave short rides to the public for $6 a person. Animal rights activists complain that elephants are social animals,who live in herds, but Asha is all alone. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has asked the federal government to assess her treatment, but Gretchen Mogenson says she’s fine.
“Her family, I believe, had been poached, and so it was a number of elephants came over, and a couple of zoos picked them up, and she’s been with us like a family member -- like my really big sister, since she was a little baby. She’s always had dogs and even pot-bellied pigs for companion, and I see her as being very well socialized. It’s justher friends don’t look like her. You know what I mean? It’s like your pet is your friend, even though you don’t look the same, you don’t eat the same thing, you don’t speak the same language, you still have that connection because you’ve been together.”
Gretchen’s husband Paul looks after an 8-year-old cougar named Nicky.
“He’s looking for a treat. I don’t have anything. Can you say hi? Prrr. These are the largest cats that purr. African lions and tigers, they don’t purr. They make a chuffing sound.”
He says Nicky was a 7th generation cat born in captivity, and he gets stellar care.
“Everything designed to give him the best quality of life. He will live three times as long in this environment than he would in the wild. ”
But Paul says there’s always room for improvement.
“No zoo is perfect, but the more people are here the better we’re going to make it. Let’s all work together on that.”
And Gretchen says it’s elephant rides and pictures with tiger cubs that help pay for better animal care. But that’s not the only reason to let people get close to the animals.
If you want people, especially in children to understand what the animal is and to want to care about it, they’ve got o be able to get close to it. They all of a sudden become so aware of wht that animal is and how special and amazing that animal is that they want to do at least something to help in the wild.”
She urges patrons to stop buying products that contain palm oil, since palm plantations are rapidly replacing natural forests where tigers live.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture licenses zoos in this country. It inspected the Natural Bridge Zoo eight times last year. The inspector asked the owner to make some repairs but found no major violations.
