This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

Beautiful, formerly known as Asha, the elephant at the Natural Bridge Zoo in Virginia, has known suffering her entire life. Orphaned and sold, she has been denied a life in her natural environment with her family. It has been forever since she has known freedom or genuine love. Please take action to send Beautiful to an accredited elephant sanctuary so she can finally experience near freedom in a rich habitat with other elephants.

Natural Bridge Zoo houses many animals, most of whom are subject to the harm that can be caused by direct interactions with humans. Beautiful, who is forced to give rides to visitors, carries the weight of them all. The elephant rides publicized by the Natural Bridge Zoo hide the true nature of the abuse that Beautiful has endured throughout her life. This zoo does not use protected contact, which means that painful bullhooks are used on this unfortunate elephant. Changing her name from Asha to Beautiful has a deeper purpose; it is a means to hide her tragic past.

The Natural Bridge Zoo has undergone several investigations regarding neglect specifically about Beautiful. She has lived in solitude from other elephants in small inadequate enclosures, survived a lack of medical care, and endured Virginia's brutal winters. She has carried unaware humans on her back in the same unnatural cycle for decades. Her life is one of bondage designed for profit.

In January 2021, the Natural Bridge Zoo's owner Karl Mogensen agreed to pay a heavy fine for the charges brought against him from six violations of the Animal Welfare Act. He was cited again this year for failing to have Beautiful under control while she was forced to have riders on her back.

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.