Pasadena’s Resident Reptile and One and Only Full-Size Alligator Moves to New Home After 18 Years

The Pasadena Humane Society is saying goodbye to its scaled friend Tina, the 28-year-old alligator who has made a home at the shelter for the past 18 years as the community as she prepares to make the move to the her new digs at the L.A. Zoo.

“We are excited and hopeful as she moves in this next stage of her journey, but we are all a little sad to see her go,” said Jamie Holeman of the Pasadena Humane Society (PHS) and SPCA.

Tina is the seven-foot-long prehistoric-looking resident reptile that has lived there longer than many of PHS’s staff has worked there. She was taken in by the Humane Society after a traveling wildlife exhibition closed due to permitting issues.

“Tina has always been a mainstay around here. People alway ask about her and she is a local celebrity. We are going to be sad to see her go but we know this move is a really good one for her so we are excited for her future,” said Holeman.

Tina’s stay supposed to be temporary but the society’s staff adopted the approximately 100 pound American Alligator and built a special 150-square foot enclosed pond area equipped with a drizzling waterfall.

“It’s hard to have any animal like this—a wild animal in captivity. They need more space than most shelters can provide. I think we are bittersweet. We love having her here,” said Ricky Whitman of the PHS who was around when Tina first moved in almost two decades ago.

The staff feels the new move to the more accommodating L.A. Zoo is a great transition for Tina.

“As she is getting a little bit older she has different needs and we are confident that the zoo will be able to handle those needs. She’s going to have a nice enclosure and maybe even some companionship with another alligator,” Said Holeman.

That companion is the L.A. Zoo’s famous alligator Reggie who has been there since 2007. Reggie lives in a private enclosure by himself, so the companionship aspect is not guaranteed by officials. Tina has never lived with other alligators, according to Whitman.

““We have always looked for a good place for her, but we found it now and it’s a good time for it. It will be a true alligator habitat,” said Whitman.