LIN WANG

This famous elephant’s early years remain shrouded in mystery. The first glimpses into his remarkable life emerge from the 1940s. During this time, he ‘served’ in the Japanese army in the jungles of Burma. Among a group of twelve other elephants, our protagonist found himself a free laborer, shouldering the weight of ammunition, supplies, and even artillery. In 1943, the Japanese camp was overtaken by the Chinese Expeditionary Corps led by the well-respected General Sun Li-Jen. The elephants were transformed into symbols of victory and were assimilated into the service of the conquerors. Thus, our protagonist gained his first official name, A-Mei, which translates to ‘beautiful’.

Regrettably, this name did little to reshape A-Mei's destiny. The Chinese forces continued to utilize these captive creatures in much the same manner as their previous owners. While they enjoyed some affection from the Chinese soldiers, evidenced by some surviving photographs of soldiers alongside their involuntary ‘comrades’, the elephants were persistently subjected to laborious tasks and the transportation of military cargo.

It was in 1945 that the decision to relocate these animals from the jungles of Burma was made. The journey to Guangdong, China, proved arduous and led to the loss of half of the elephant cohort. Even after the formal conclusion of the war, and after arriving in China, their circumstances remained unchanged. Reports recount that the elephants were employed in the reconstruction of decimated structures and the erection of post-war memorials. Notably, A-Mei and the surviving elephants took part in circus performances to raise funds for famine relief in specific provinces of post-war China.

In 1947, General Sun Li-Jen was assigned to Taiwan to train new units and establish military infrastructure. Accompanying him were three cherished companions, including A-Mei the elephant. Fate once again tested the animal: one of his ‘comrades’ didn't survive the journey, and another perished a few years after their arrival in Taiwan, where the animals were still engaged in heavy labor. By 1951, our hero remained the last of the thirteen elephants captured in the Burmese jungles.

Fortunately for A-Mei, the following year brought demobilization. The Chinese command saw no purpose in employing a solitary elephant and decided to transfer A-Mei to the zoo in Taipei. Here, along with a new name, the elephant finally found the tranquility he sought. The zoo director deemed his previous name too feminine and bestowed upon the veteran the more majestic moniker of Lin Wang, meaning ‘the king of the forest’. The newly named Lin Wang also met a female elephant here, and they became a pair.

Upon retirement, a new, and equally eventful, phase of the elephant's life began. Lin Wang quickly became a favorite with the public and the main attraction of the Taipei Zoo. Almost thirty years later, in 1983, the administration organized a grand celebration for his sixty-sixth birthday, inviting many prominent citizens to join the festivities. From that moment on, Lin Wang's birthday, celebrated on the last Sunday of October every year, took on the character of a national holiday, effectively making the elephant a sort of national symbol.

In 2003, Lin Wang was diagnosed with arthritis. While the disease itself might not have been fatal for the elephant, other complications arose. The much-adored elephant lost his appetite and passed away at the end of February. At the time of his death, Lin Wang was eighty-six years old, and had surpassed the previous Guinness World Record held by the deceased Indian elephant Lakshmikutty by two years. Unsurprisingly, the city came together to mourn the beloved resident of the Taipei Zoo, who had called it home for over half a century. The mourning for Lin Wang lasted several weeks, and the mayor of the capital even bestowed the elephant with the honorary title ‘Citizen of the City’. A year later, a local sculptor immortalized Lin Wang’s memory with a life-size monument, which can still be admired at the Taipei Zoo today.