Born: April 26, 1970 ~ Death: July 21, 2004
Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, USA
Birth status: captive born
Life before the Sanctuary: Oregon Zoo, African Lion Safari, Greater Vancouver Zoo
Reason for coming to the Sanctuary: living alone and debilitating foot disease

Tina was born April 26, 1970. She was the third of four calves, all female, born to Rosy and Thonglawat the Portland, Oregon Zoo. Rosy, Tina's mother, had two additional calves, both male, sired by Packy, the first elephant to be born at the Portland Zoo.

In all, Tina had 16 brothers and sisters: three were full sisters; two were half brothers by her mother; and eleven more (seven males and four females) were half siblings by her father.

Of all Tina's sixteen siblings, only four are known to be alive. Packy, age 41, and Rama, age 20, still live at the Portland Zoo, Hanako, age 40, is living at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington and Cora, age 38, was sold to Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus where she remains to this day. Cora is Tina's only surviving full-blooded sibling.

At two years of age Tina was sold to the Vancouver Game Farm in Aldergrove, BC, Canada. With the exception of a temporary move to the breeding facility at African Lion Safari in Cambridge, Ontario, Tina lived her entire life at the Game Farm in Canada.

For many years Tina lived alone at the Game Park except for a Saint Bernard dog named Susie and the occasional night when the owner's children camped out in her barn. Apparently she loved both the dog and the camp outs.

In 1986 Tina was joined by another elephant, a young female African named Tumpe. In the Early 1990s The Game Farm sold to new owners who changed the name of the facility to The Greater Vancouver Zoo. Around this time it was identified that Tina was overweight and was experiencing foot problems. Consultants were hired to instruct the staff on proper diet and foot care. Tina and Tumpe continued to be on exhibit together until 2002 at which time Tumpe was sent to a zoo in the United States and Tina was once again alone.

Tina was blessed with a staff that cared deeply for her and did their best to give her a quality life. After Tempe left many recognized that Tina's environment was detrimental to her well-being. Her caring staff joined the effort to find her a more suitable place to live.

On August 11, 2003, after a 3000 mile, 3.5 day, cross-country trip, Tina arrived at the Elephant Sanctuary. She was accompanied by her long time keeper Tony Guenther and Sanctuary co-founder Scott Blais. She is our eighth resident, our first Canadian and the first captive born elephant to join our herd.

On July 21, 2004, nearly one year after her arrival, Tina passed away.