Free Asha From Unnatural Imprisonment at Natural Bridge Zoo
Free Asha From Unnatural Imprisonment at Natural Bridge Zoo
Natural Bridge Zoo continues to be a prison for Asha, a 33-year old African elephant. Life for Asha consists of complete isolation from any other elephants. She spends her long, lonely winters in a barn, and in the summer is forced to give rides to paying customers in the blistering heat. She is subject to cruel, abusive coercion with bullhooks. Virginia’s Natural Bridge Zoo must be shut down, and Asha swiftly moved to safety.
Three times is not the charm for the Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge County, Virginia. This roadside atrocity has made its third appearance on In Defense of Animals' annual list of the 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants.
Since January 2015, the USDA has visited the zoo five times. It has found a total of 62 Animal Welfare Act violations. In August 2016, Natural Bridge was handed yet another series of USDA violations for its mistreatment of and improper care for animals, including the mishandling of Asha by her keepers.