Raif Mair did a half hour talk show on Tina today, and it was excellent. He offered 100% support for Tina to go to the Tennessee sanctuary, and repeatedly asked the expert panel of guests HOW the Greater Vancouver Zoo could decide to send Tina to the Bowmanville Zoo, where she will be trained for renting out to perform in circuses and other exhibits. Raif also asked whether the Bowmanville Zoo was paying for Tina, but nobody can confirm this. It was confirmed that Bowmanville Zoo HAS purchased elephants in the past. Expert guests included people representing the Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary, and the Winnipeg Humane Society, and all said unequivocally that Tina must go to the sanctuary and NOT the Bowmanville Zoo. The experts also agreed that it will be up to the BCSPCA to take action to help Tina, as they are the only official agency who has the authority to do so. The BCSPCA has stated through the media that they too are against the decision to send Tina to Bowmanville, but it remains to be seen what action they take.
Raif Mair's parting remarks say it all:
"I'm having a hard time keeping a dry eye through all this, it's just bloody awful............."