When Natural Bridge Zoo moved Asha the elephant to Florida, officials there said the transfer violated state law.
Asha’s transfer is part of a much larger case.
Asha’s transfer, the Natural Bridge Zoo seizure and the cases still before the courts
ㅤ
Asha’s departure from Natural Bridge Zoo is one part of a much larger animal-welfare case. The elephant left Virginia on December 1, 2023—five days before authorities searched the zoo during an animal-cruelty investigation.
ㅤ
Nearly three years later, five people await criminal trials. Reporting by Cardinal News has also brought renewed attention to the explanation for Asha’s transfer and Virginia’s efforts to obtain evidence in Florida.
ㅤ
The search and the animals left behind
ㅤ
Virginia authorities searched Natural Bridge Zoo on December 6, 2023. Nearly 100 animals were seized or impounded. Asha had already been transported to Two Tails Ranch in Williston, Florida.
ㅤ
The custody proceedings produced a decision that matters independently of the pending criminal charges. A civil jury found that 71 animals had been cruelly treated, and custody of those animals was awarded to Rockbridge County. The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld that outcome in January 2026.
ㅤ
That ruling determined custody of the animals. The criminal cases concern the responsibility of individual defendants and remain unresolved.
ㅤ
Five defendants, three scheduled trials
ㅤ
Karl, Deborah and Gretchen “Sasha” Mogensen, members of the family that owned and operated the zoo, face animal-cruelty and related charges. Their trial is scheduled for February 8–22, 2027.
ㅤ
Former elephant keeper Mark Easley faces animal-cruelty-related charges, with trial scheduled for March 22–24. Virginia veterinarian Ashley Spencer faces felony document-forgery charges and is scheduled for trial March 8–9.
ㅤ
The criminal charges are allegations. All five defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
ㅤ
The explanation for Asha’s transfer
ㅤ
According to Florida investigative records described by Cardinal News, Florida veterinarian Mark Wilson cited dental and possible gastrointestinal concerns to explain an emergency transfer. Subsequent observations and tests reported no significant illness or abnormalities.
ㅤ
Two Tails Ranch operator Patricia Zerbini told an investigator that there was no medical emergency and that planning had begun before Thanksgiving. Florida investigator Kenneth Holmes concluded that Wilson imported Asha without the required permit despite having time to obtain it. He issued a written warning.
ㅤ
Wilson is a different veterinarian from Spencer, the Virginia defendant awaiting trial. His permit warning was not a criminal conviction. Wilson and Zerbini denied knowing in advance about the Virginia search.
ㅤ
Why Virginia sought records in Florida
ㅤ
Cardinal reported that Virginia sought access to Zerbini’s and Wilson’s phones and Wilson’s veterinary records concerning Asha. Those materials could help investigators examine the circumstances of her departure.
ㅤ
Holmes wrote that a Florida prosecutor considered the evidence insufficient to support the requested warrants. However, the local state attorney’s office told Cardinal it had no record of the request; an informal approach might not have been logged.
ㅤ
A Virginia warrant did not automatically authorize a Florida search. As an independent attorney explained to Cardinal, a Florida judge would need to find probable cause and issue a warrant under Florida law.
ㅤ
The reporting leaves an important question unanswered: Were the phone and veterinary records ultimately obtained? That gap does not establish wrongdoing by the people whose records were sought.
ㅤ
On a Positive Note:
ㅤ
In July 2026, Asha moved to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). The circumstances prompting that transfer have not been publicly explained.
ㅤ
Her arrival offers a hopeful development while the legal proceedings continue. Understanding the case requires keeping three things clear: what the courts have already decided, what investigators documented and what remains unproven or unanswered.
Related Reading:
“What Happens After the Gates Close”
Explore why animal-welfare accountability extends beyond what visitors see during operating hours—and how inspections, documented findings and regulatory oversight can reveal concerns that remain hidden from public view.
KeepingWildlifeWild.org
Evidence • Education • Accountability
How You Can Help:
Awareness is the first step toward meaningful change. Help advance evidence-based education, transparency and accountability by sharing this article with others.
Together, we can encourage a more informed conversation about the treatment and protection of wildlife.
