NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (WDBJ) - Two baby giraffes reportedly born at Natural Bridge Zoo have disappeared, prompting a contempt case that has landed the zoo’s co-owner in jail and sparked a national search effort.

The timeline begins in December 2023, when the Attorney General’s Animal Law Unit seized roughly 100 animals from the Natural Bridge Zoo. In January 2024, 39 animals were returned, but four giraffes remained on the grounds as property of Rockbridge County because moving giraffes can be dangerous and complicated.

Before the state could relocate them, two female giraffes became pregnant. By the time investigators visited in April, the births had already happened, but the calves were nowhere to be found.

Officials said the zoo never reported the births, despite a court order requir

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