Gita (elephant)
Encyclopedia
Gita was a 48-year-old Asian Elephant
who died at the Los Angeles Zoo
on 10 June 2006. Gita's death prompted dozens of animal rights
activists, including In Defense of Animals
, to accuse the zoo of neglecting and endangering its animals by placing them in unsatisfactory living conditions, and fueled a years-long debate in the city government over the efficacy of keeping elephants in a zoo at all.
in 1959. She was the most placid of the zoo's elephants, and was taken on a walkabout around the zoo each morning before it opened. She led the procession of elephants across Griffith Park
in 1966 when the zoo moved from its original Griffith Park location to its present one.
For 2 1/2 years prior to her death, Gita and another female elephant, Ruby, were kept in a small, behind-the-scenes barn with a concrete floor, which activists claim exacerbated Gita's joint and foot problems. Gita suffered from osteomyelitis
and arthritis
, and underwent an operation in September 2005 to remove an infected bone from one of her toes. She was fitted with a specially-made shoe at the time. A veterinarian examined her on the Friday before her death and gave her a good report.
On June 11, the day after Gita's death, two dozen animal rights activists protested at the zoo's gates, calling on the zoo to move its remaining two elephants, Ruby and Billy, to a more spacious animal sanctuary
. Activists and members of the Los Angeles Indian community held a memorial service for Gita on June 14. A Hindu
priest from Malibu officiated at the ceremony.
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. The zoo paid the fine in January 2008, but its signing of the agreement did not admit culpability for the violations. According to the agreement, the zoo "failed to assure an elephant received veterinary care in adequate time. Elephant Gita was found in an awkward position around 9 p.m., and veterinarians were not alerted to Gita's condition until around 5 a.m. the next day".
A necropsy
reported blockages in the right chamber and major vessels of the elephant's heart, citing the cause of death as heart failure brought on by blood clots which had begun forming 3 to 5 days before death. The study could not determine whether inattention to Gita's heart condition contributed to her death.
Gita is either the 12th or the 14th elephant to die at the Los Angeles Zoo since 1968. There have been only 4 elephant deaths since 1992, when the zoo changed its policy of keeping elephants all night in barns with concrete floors and instead provided dirt yards that are easier on their feet. 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."
, Lily Tomlin
and Robert Culp
. 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.
Asian Elephant
The Asian or Asiatic elephant is the only living species of the genus Elephas and distributed in Southeast Asia from India in the west to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognized — Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Indian elephant or E. m. indicus from mainland Asia, and E. m....
who died at the Los Angeles Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo
The Los Angeles Zoo , is a zoo founded in 1966 and located in Los Angeles, California. The City of Los Angeles owns the entire zoo, its land and facilities, and the animals...
on 10 June 2006. Gita's death prompted dozens of animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
activists, including In Defense of Animals
In Defense of Animals
In Defense of Animals is an animal rights organization founded in 1983 in San Rafael, California, USA. It has 60,000 members and an annual budget of $650,000. The group's slogan is "working to protect the rights, welfare, and habitats of animals"....
, to accuse the zoo of neglecting and endangering its animals by placing them in unsatisfactory living conditions, and fueled a years-long debate in the city government over the efficacy of keeping elephants in a zoo at all.
Life at the zoo
Gita came to the Los Angeles Zoo from IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1959. She was the most placid of the zoo's elephants, and was taken on a walkabout around the zoo each morning before it opened. She led the procession of elephants across Griffith Park
Griffith Park
Griffith Park is a large municipal park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The park covers of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America...
in 1966 when the zoo moved from its original Griffith Park location to its present one.
For 2 1/2 years prior to her death, Gita and another female elephant, Ruby, were kept in a small, behind-the-scenes barn with a concrete floor, which activists claim exacerbated Gita's joint and foot problems. Gita suffered from osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis simply means an infection of the bone or bone marrow...
and arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
, and underwent an operation in September 2005 to remove an infected bone from one of her toes. She was fitted with a specially-made shoe at the time. A veterinarian examined her on the Friday before her death and gave her a good report.
Death
A zoo worker reportedly saw Gita "in distress" on the night of June 9, but didn't report it to staff. Two keepers discovered her the following morning and tried to save her, without success. The night keeper who failed to report her in distress later resigned. According to In Defense of Animals, Gita had collapsed and was unable to arise for as long as 17 hours before she finally died.On June 11, the day after Gita's death, two dozen animal rights activists protested at the zoo's gates, calling on the zoo to move its remaining two elephants, Ruby and Billy, to a more spacious animal sanctuary
Animal sanctuary
An animal sanctuary is a facility where animals are brought to live and be protected for the rest of their lives. Unlike animal shelters, sanctuaries do not seek to place animals with individuals or groups, instead maintaining each animal until his or her natural death...
. Activists and members of the Los Angeles Indian community held a memorial service for Gita on June 14. A Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
priest from Malibu officiated at the ceremony.
Investigation and fine
A USDAUnited States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
investigation into the deaths of Gita and a chimpanzee
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
named Judeo cited the Los Angeles Zoo for violations and imposed a fine of $3,281. The zoo paid the fine in January 2008, but its signing of the agreement did not admit culpability for the violations. According to the agreement, the zoo "failed to assure an elephant received veterinary care in adequate time. Elephant Gita was found in an awkward position around 9 p.m., and veterinarians were not alerted to Gita's condition until around 5 a.m. the next day".
A necropsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
reported blockages in the right chamber and major vessels of the elephant's heart, citing the cause of death as heart failure brought on by blood clots which had begun forming 3 to 5 days before death. The study could not determine whether inattention to Gita's heart condition contributed to her death.
Gita is either the 12th or the 14th elephant to die at the Los Angeles Zoo since 1968. There have been only 4 elephant deaths since 1992, when the zoo changed its policy of keeping elephants all night in barns with concrete floors and instead provided dirt yards that are easier on their feet. 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."
Public outcry
In response to the deaths of Gita and other elephants at the L.A. Zoo, public opposition to the keeping of elephants on zoo grounds continued for the next 2 1/2 years. In May 2007, Ruby, the zoo's 45-year-old African elephant, was moved to a Northern California sanctuary. 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. Zoo called Pachyderm Forest. Activists protested the decision, claiming the expansion was not big enough to guarantee the elephants' survival in captivity. They were supported by celebrities who also appeared before the city council, including CherCher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, Lily Tomlin
Lily Tomlin
Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin is an American actress, comedienne, writer, and producer. Tomlin has been a major force in American comedy since the late 1960's when she began a career as a stand up comedian and became a featured performer on television's Laugh-in...
and Robert Culp
Robert Culp
Robert Martin Culp was an American actor, scriptwriter, voice actor and director, widely known for his work in television. Culp first earned an international reputation for his role as Kelly Robinson on I Spy , the espionage series in which he and co-star Bill Cosby played a pair of secret agents...
. Former game show host Bob Barker
Bob Barker
Robert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.Born...
had earlier offered to pay $1.5 million to move the zoo's last elephant, Billy, to the Northern California sanctuary.