By Pat Craig | Executive Director
As most people know, we typically rescue Lions, Tigers, Bears, Wolves, and even Mustangs. However, we are rarely ever thought of when it comes to rescuing Giraffes—yes, Giraffes, the very tall, reticulated kind from Africa.
Just a few months ago, we were called in by the Virginia Attorney General to help relocate several adult and baby Giraffes. This story actually dates back to March of 2024, when we were first contacted to help rescue a number of animals being held at a roadside zoo near Natural Bridge, Virginia. The zoo’s aging owner had fallen ill, and the standard of care for many of the animals had declined below acceptable levels.
After receiving numerous public complaints, the Attorney General’s Office launched an investigation, placing an undercover investigator as an employee to verify the claims. Unfortunately, the allegations proved true. A no-knock raid was organized, and we traveled to Virginia with a team of rescuers to assist. As a result, we helped remove a number of smaller animals—some came to our Sanctuary, while others went to specialized facilities.
The larger animals—including an Elephant and several adult Giraffes—were not removed at that time. The Elephant had reportedly been sent to Florida just days before the raid, and officials suspected the owners had caught wind of the investigation. The adult Giraffes remained on-site under state supervision. One male had a serious foot injury that required treatment, but there was no hauler in the area with a trailer large enough to move a full-grown Giraffe safely.
Soon after, the Attorney General secured a specialized hauler to transport the male to a facility for medical care. However, before the rest could be moved, the zoo owner filed a motion to halt all animal transfers, hoping to reclaim the seized animals. Months of legal delays followed. Finally, by mid-2025, the court filings came to an end, and the Attorney General received approval to remove the remaining Giraffes.
By then, two of the females had given birth, creating two new calves to rescue—but those babies were soon discovered missing, likely hidden by the zoo owners. Additional charges were filed, and attention turned to saving the three remaining adult females.
Our team of five traveled from Colorado to assist in safely loading the Giraffes for transport. Waiting in Natural Bridge was expert Giraffe hauler Jarrod Treangan, who had successfully transported the injured male a year earlier. His goal was to move each female one at a time to a new home in Georgia, where they could reunite with the male.
The plan was to load one Giraffe per day, allowing for Jarrod’s 24-hour round trip to Georgia and back, with a rest day built in for him—and one for the forecasted rain.
The hardest part about wrangling Giraffes is they are giant creatures! Even though they look tall, slender, and graceful, they are really quite massive—and also very dangerous to be around. We found this out with the very first female we loaded. The idea was to use a number of very large and heavy corral panels to create a chute in their open exercise yard so the Giraffes could be herded toward the awaiting trailer.
However, as coordinated as that may sound, it was quite the feat to get the dozen or so 800+ pound panels moved into the yard. We utilized a lot of good old muscle from our Colorado team to maneuver each panel inside the yard and in-line so they created a viable loading chute.
Unfortunately, the first female we picked to wrangle had a much different idea as to where and how she might be coerced. Instead of us pushing her in the direction we wanted, she immediately began chasing us in the opposite direction. Not exactly friendly was the determination by all, as we ran around the corral panels in an effort to avoid being kicked by her massive hooves. It didn’t take long for us to realize a different approach was needed.
We rented a telehandler—a forklift with an extendable boom—and built a large wall on its front to act as a mobile barrier. Once a Giraffe entered the chute, we followed behind with the telehandler, blocking her from backing out and guiding her into the trailer. Though still challenging, this system worked. The Giraffes hesitated and pushed against the panels, but each one eventually walked into the trailer, where our team closed the stall gate behind her. The sound of a 2,000-pound Giraffe stepping into an aluminum trailer was deafening—but the process was safe and effective.
By the end of the week, all three females had been successfully loaded and transported. On the final day, we removed and loaded the heavy corral panels used during both rescues. The zoo owner’s daughter, who monitored our work closely, livestreamed much of it in an apparent effort to stir up trouble. At one point, a man fired a rifle near the enclosure to scare the Giraffes, but the Virginia State Patrol, who were on-site, quickly apprehended him. A rogue drone from a media outlet also caused brief concern but was handled swiftly as well.
Once the final Giraffe was safely on her way to Georgia, the daughter demanded we leave the property—though after dealing with towering 2,000-pound animals all week, her outburst was hardly intimidating.
The next morning, we headed home to Colorado, grateful for the opportunity to assist the Attorney General and her team. We sincerely hope the missing baby Giraffes are found and reunited with their mothers at their new home.
For those wondering why the Giraffes did not come to our Sanctuary, it’s because large species like Giraffes and Elephants require warm climates and would need to be confined indoors during Colorado’s winters. Instead, we ensure they’re placed in facilities in states like Georgia, Florida, Texas, or California, where they can live comfortably outdoors year-round.
It’s always unfortunate when roadside zoos deteriorate to the point of government intervention—but without such actions, many animals would otherwise suffer or die in silence. We’re incredibly thankful to have played a role in this rescue and for your continued support that allows us to make a difference in the lives of animals in need.
Today, these Giraffes live in a large, scenic safari park in Georgia, roaming freely in lush, open pastures alongside others of their kind. Thanks to your support, they’ll never again know the confinement or neglect of their past lives.
We invite you to learn more about this rescue and our ongoing rescue efforts in our Sanctuary Newsletter.
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