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New changes and animals to come as Natural Bridge Zoo opens with new leadership - WDBJ

NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (WDBJ) - It was a delayed start to the 2024 season- but Saturday, the Natural Bridge Zoo reopened with new owners.

"Normally we'd be opening back up in March, but of course now we're almost into June," said owner Gretchen Mogensen.

Mogesen, zookeeper and daughter of the zoo's founder, will be the new co-owner with her brothers. With new ownership, they plan to make some changes to the zoo.

"We're going to be downsizing on the number of animals and the variety of animals, there will be a smaller variety. It doesn't mean that it won't be changing as we move forward, but we're going to be focusing more on doing interaction with the public with small animals," said Mogensen.

They're looking forward to a fresh start after the Virginia Attorney General's Office investigated the zoo and its owners for animal abuse allegations. View our coverage of the investigation here.

"It was a very dramatic and traumatic experience for not only the people involved, but for a lot of the animals involved. We are greatly humbled and trying to move forward as best that we can," said Mogensen on the past few months.

Mogensen and her brothers have considered a complete rebranding.

"As we are changing over and it is new owners, because it's been the same owner since 1972, we also are going to be possibly changing the name of the park," said Mogensen. "We're not 100% decided on what it's going to be yet, but we are open to suggestions!" she added.

Reopening has brought some normalcy back for staff and animals.

"The animals like seeing the people. It's more normal for them," explained Mogensen. "They see kids running around, they see people talking to them. So it's also interaction, it's enrichment for them as well."

Zoogoers were happy one of their favorite attractions is back open.

"We love the zoo," said Jessica Wade, sitting with her daughter Kaylee. "I just had a flashback from three years ago of her here. So I wanted to bring her again today and oddly enough, it was just opening today . . . I like the way we're able to get access to the animals and feed them and pet them," she added.

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