LEXINGTON, Va. – Natural Bridge Zoo is in court for a fourth day. The zoo is fighting the seizure by the Attorney General’s Office of about 100 animals from them.
Vets from zoos currently housing the seized animals testified. They say animals are doing well.
“Since those animals came every day I looked at them and made sure how things are going,” said Dr. Cheryl Antonucci, a Metro Richmond Zoo Vet.
They recounted meeting the animals for the first time, saying some of the animals like pythons came in with respiratory illnesses, but others appeared healthy.
Dr. Antonucci testified that two animals, a gibbon, and a skink, died in their care, but that they had chronic illnesses. They suspect a gibbon died from complications of a GI disease, which is common in the species.
In the afternoon, a zoo management expert who assisted the lead veterinarian during the raid was questioned about his previous work as a consultant for PETA.
“I pay admission, go to a zoo, evaluate animals using the rapid welfare assessment from publicly accessible locations and then provide PETA with a report of my observations afterward,” said Darren Minier, a zoo management expert from Oakland Zoo.
The jury trial was supposed to end on Thursday but was told would continue at least till Monday, but the county plans to call their last witnesses on Friday.
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