IDA Calls for Federal Investigation
of Elephant's Death at L.A. Zoo

IDA has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) asking for an investigation of explosive allegations concerning the death of Gita, the 48-year-old elephant who passed away at the Los Angeles Zoo on Saturday, June 10th. Gita died prematurely as a result of suffering for many years from ailments that were a direct result of being kept for nearly five decades in inadequate conditions at the Zoo. She is the thirteenth elephant known to die at L.A. Zoo.

L.A. Zoo officials have publicly maintained that Gita was first observed to be down at 5:00 a.m. on the day of her death. However, according to well-placed sources, Gita was first observed in a downed position between 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. the night before her death. The L.A. Zoo has publicly stated that Gita did not receive veterinary attention until 7:30 a.m., meaning that Gita likely suffered for eight hours before she was attended to by keepers, and over ten hours before she received any medical assistance.

If Gita had been cared for during these crucial hours, she may have survived, or at least the suffering she endured in the last hours of her life would have been greatly lessened.

IDA president Elliot Katz, DVM announced the complaint and details of the allegations at a news conference in front of the L.A. Zoo on Tuesday, June 20th. Our official complaint alleges that the L.A. Zoo violated the federal Animal Welfare Act by failing to provide prompt medical treatment to Gita and by holding Gita for two and a half years in an inadequate off-exhibit area under conditions that exacerbated her severe arthritis and foot disease. IDA and other animal advocates had long urged L.A. Zoo officials, city council members and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to send Gita to a sanctuary where she could heal from her debilitating condition, but all refused to take appropriate action to save her life.

Gita's death came just weeks after the L.A. City Council voted to construct a $39 million elephant exhibit that would still be far too small to meet elephants' needs. In the meantime, the Zoo's surviving elephants Ruby and Billy would have to spend the projected four years it will take to complete the construction in their current inadequate quarters waiting for the new "habitat" to be built.

What You Can Do:

Send a letter urging Dr. Ron DeHaven, Administrator of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to investigate IDA's allegations that the L.A. Zoo violated the Animal Welfare Act by failing to give Gita prompt veterinary treatment for as long as ten hours before her untimely death earlier this month. Ask the agency to take swift and significant enforcement action against the zoo if the allegations are upheld. You can also contact Dr. DeHaven by postal mail, telephone or personal email.

Ron DeHaven
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
4700 River Road
Riverdale, MD 20737
Ron.DeHaven@usda.gov
Tel: (202) 720-3668
Fax: (202) 720-3054

Send a letter urging L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to send Ruby and Billy to a sanctuary before they meet the same tragic end as Gita. You can also contact the Mayor by phone, fax, email or postal mail.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
200 N. Spring St., Room 303
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tel: (213) 978-0600
Fax: (213) 978-0750
Email: mayor@lacity.org

View IDA's complaint letter to the USDA. Also visit www.helpelephants.com to learn more about IDA's campaign to help elephants in our nation's zoos.