Tino (elephant)

Tino (天奴) the elephant, the favourite pet of businessman and banker Deacon Chiu and an attraction for 10 thousands of children at the Lai Chi Kok Zoo, Hong Kong over the past 30 years, was put down in February 1989.

While a baby, Tino was part of a circus and was given to the Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park in 1958 where it was kept in the park's zoo. It was a common sight during the last 30 years to see delighted zoo visitors, particularly youngesters, feeding Tino with banana and the elephant bowing in return for the treats.

The Asian elephant had been suffering from pneumonia and was so weak that it was unable to stand. As Tino had lived much longer than the usual life-span of Asian elephants, it was put down with an injection by a vet from the Agriculture and Fisheries Department to alleviate it from further suffering.