This is Asha’s story…
Asha is a 37-year-old African female elephant who was born in Zimbabwe somewhere between 1982-83. Asha lost her entire family in a horrific slaughter orchestrated by the government of Zimbabwe in 1984. She was sent to the USA by the Shultze Company to later be exploited by the Natural Bridge Zoo in Virginia at only two years old. Asha was a frightened baby destined for a life of human torture. And torure it has been. The Natural Bridge Zoo has over 100 violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), has had it’s permit suspended twice. Yet both state and federal agencies continue to renew the zoo’s exhibitor permit year after year.
Asha spends most of her life in an uheated barn on a concrete floor and giving backbreaking rides to thousands and thousands of visitors every year. It’s time she be sent to a sanctuary accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). GFAS is the gold standard for sanctuaries. It’s way past time for Asha to live her life free to be the elephant she never had the chance to be.
FACE is committed to working to expose the decades of public complaints to the agencies tasked with protecting Asha that have fallen on deaf ears. It is time to bring this issue to the public’s attention. FACE recently was successful in raising funds to erect a highly visible billboard near Richmond, Virginia. Over 300,000 people per week read our message about the Natural Bridge Zoo’s more than 100 violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Our goal is to have Virginia authorities seize Asha and place her into a GFAS sanctuary.
FACE is colaborating with other animail welfare organizations in Virginia which includes the Humane Society of the United States and In Defense of Animals, to both file complaints and work towards legislative change to better protect elephants.
The Virginia Attorney General’s Office recently seized over 100 animals from Wilson’s Road Side Zoo.
https://www.winchesterstar.
FACE applauds the Virginia Attorney General’s Office and fully supports their actions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZDLv6If848 (News Report on Asha)
Read one of MANY USDA inspection reports here:
USDA Natural Bridge Zoo Report
With respect to providing adequate care and according to the USDA, Natural Bridge Zoo:
- Failed to adequately clean and sanitize animal enclosures or to control infestations of insect and mammalian pests.
- Failed to provide adequate space for certain animals to move and make normal postural adjustments, leading to high rates of illness, injury, and death.
- Failed to ensure that animals are sheltered in a manner that protects them from the elements.
- Failed to separate animals who are incompatible with each other, putting these animals at risk of severe physical injuries.
- Failed to prepare animal feed in a sanitary manner and fails to provide infant animals with necessary sustenance.
- Failed to provide certain animals with adequate access to potable water, causing extreme thirst.
The dereliction of their legal duty by federal and Virginia officials is an absolute outrage. They are complicit in the heartbreaking abuse of poor, helpless Asha and other animals exploited in this despicable excuse for a “zoo.” The zoo vet is the brother-in-law of the owner, Morgesson, who has been cited for repeated violations of the Animal Welfare Act. C’mon officials, show some self respect and do yr duty and shut down this place.
I further understand that the unsafe manner in which Ashe is confined creates a danger to the public, yet the responsible authorities just don’t seem to care. I believe they may be pals with the owner Morgesson
We cannot thank you enough, Free All Captive Elephants! Thank you for your concerted efforts and The Billboard Project for Asha!
Thank you for helping ASHA. We appreciate all of the hard work Free All Captive Elephants is doing in collaboration with funding from In Defense of Animals and Asha fans to help get the Billboard erected! It’s great to be able to give toward Asha’s Billboard Project. The goal is to get Asha to a true Sanctuary. The reality is getting closer and closer!
Thank YOU Kim! FACE is consistently working to make this happen for Asha. The billboard will bring much needed attention on Asha for those that don’t realize how much she suffers at the Natural Bridge Zoo. (NBZ). We are grateful to In Defense of Animals for their collaboration on this billboard project. The goal for all captive elephants suffering in the clutches of these abusers in circuses and zoos, is to get them out and sent to true sanctuary where they can live out the rest of their years as close to freedom as possible. It is getting closer no doubt. We still have important work to do.
Any updates on current work to get Asha into a legitimate sanctuary????
Thank you for your questions. FACE is currently collaborating with other organizations to pursue legislative options. The legislative process takes a significant amount of time. It took us 2 1/2 years to get Nosey’s law passed. We ask for your patience as we churn through this arduous process. Unfortunately, due to the sensitive nature of what we do to document violations, we cannot divulge information on the other avenues we are pursuing to get Asha to a GFAS sanctuary. To do so, we would run the risk of jeopardizing our operations. The zoo was closed for a substantial period of time which stalled some of our efforts. However, rest assured, we will not let Covid-19 derail the work we are doing for Asha or any other elephant suffering in captivity in North America. Please continue to follow our actions on social media where you will get the most current updates.