Gita (elephant)

[4] Gita suffered from osteomyelitis and arthritis,[5] and underwent an operation in September 2005 to remove an infected bone from one of her toes.

[7] Activists and members of the Los Angeles Indian community held a memorial service for Gita on June 14.

[3] A USDA investigation into the deaths of Gita and a chimpanzee named Judeo cited the Los Angeles Zoo for violations and imposed a fine of $3,281.

According to John Lewis, zoo director, "Despite how we took care of them, we're paying the price for how they were treated in their earlier lives — no exercise, being kept on concrete.

[4] In January 2009, the Los Angeles City Council held a final vote approving plans to create a $42 million, six-acre elephant sanctuary at the L.A.

Former game show host Bob Barker had earlier offered to pay $1.5 million to move the zoo's last elephant, Billy, to the northern California sanctuary.