Road to Recovery
![Gita's left forefoot is swathed in duct tape to protect the bandage following surgery.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/68464a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x332+0+0/resize/500x332!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3d%2F82%2Fc972422b15445fc9bdd92e70d6f6%2Fla-gita2-iyezuunc.jpg)
Gita’s left forefoot is swathed in duct tape to protect the bandage following surgery. (Ken Hively / LAT)
![Strolling](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8daa3b9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x378+0+0/resize/500x378!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F57%2Fa0%2F63ecb8e4ec22ed0a7ebb0da5661a%2Fla-gita1-iyeztinc.jpg)
STROLLING: Pictured in April, Gita walks with an entourage -- including a publicist. “She’s a little princess,” said Jennie McNary, an L.A. Zoo curator. (Ken Hively / LAT)
![Reach Out](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3f396bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x300+0+0/resize/500x300!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdd%2F16%2F88352138bad8a8285817e79aa4dd%2Fla-gita4-iyeztznc.jpg)
To keep Gita moving along, animal keeper Don Aguirre feeds her biscuits. Back in her barn, Gita ate a box full of fruits and veggies. (Ken Hively / LAT)
![Handler](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/92a4922/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x296+0+0/resize/500x296!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9f%2F23%2Feb6d4fa97430d4cc0d3d6f574f2b%2Fla-gita3-iyeziznc.jpg)
Don Aguirre, an animal keeper, leads Gita on a morning walk after her recent foot surgery. (Ken Hively / LAT)