NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. – A Rockbridge County attraction is once again being criticized by an animal rights groups.
The Natural Bridge Zoo is ranked among the 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants, according to In Defense of Animals.
The organization specifically looked at the care of an elephant named Asha, who doctors say has been mistreated for years.
The privately owned facility was also under a USDA investigation in 2016, which resulted in dozens of federal regulation violations.Â
"Asha has been alone for over a decade, and the USDA violations showing Animal Welfare Act violations," said Dr. Toni Frohoff, an elephant scientist with In Defense of Animals. "I mean this place has really got to be shut down already."Â
This is the fourth year the zoo has been on the list.
10 News reached out to the zoo for comment but has not heard back.Â