Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 16, 1994 TAG: 9403160097
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NATURAL BRIDGE LENGTH: Medium
A federal veterinarian had few complaints after a four-hour inspection of the Natural Bridge Zoo on Tuesday, according to the zoo's consultant.
The elephants, bears and other exotic animals had sufficient food and water, and their cages were clean, said Joe Strauss, a West Virginia animal dealer and acquaintence of zoo owner Karl Mogensen.
The worst problem the inspector noted was gaps a few inches wide along the bottom of the zoo's perimeter fence, Strauss said.
"This is not some house of horrors for animals, it really isn't," he said.
The zoo's license was suspended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in October for numerous violations of the Animal Welfare Act dating back several years. Mogensen is not allowed to exhibit or sell animals during his suspension.
He was also fined $10,000, of which $3,500 was suspended. He paid the remainder in October, according to USDA officials.
Although Mogensen spoke with television reporters before and after the inspection, he refused to talk to a reporter for the Roanoke Times & World-News,which published a story Monday about his suspension.
The USDA inspector for Virginia, Kay Carter-Corker,declined to comment.
Mogensen requested the inspection to regain his license in anticipation of opening in April, as he has every season for 21 years.
Strauss said any remaining violations that were noted Tuesday "shouldn't take more than 48 hours" to correct. As the inspection took place, a worker began shoveling gravel and dirt along the outside fence to plug the gaps.
"I thought that the inspection was very, very thorough," Strauss said. "She hit every cage, every animal."
Carter-Corker must check the zoo again, and an administrative judge must approve reissuing Mogensen's license, Strauss said. He did not know how long that would take.
It's unclear how an ongoing USDA investigation of Mogensen may affect his attempt to regain his exhibitor's license. Mogensen is under investigation for selling or transporting a camel and a caracal lynx - a small African wildcat - in violation of his suspension.
A USDA spokeswoman has previously said that if Mogensen violated his suspension, he could be required to pay the $3,500 that was suspended from his original fine.
Strauss, who accompanied Mogensen, Carter-Corker and another USDA inspector who videotaped much of the inspection, said the investigation was not discussed.
by CNB