Lin Wang: The Elephant Who Served in Two Armies and Lived to 86
Lin Wang was an Asian elephant who served in two armies during World War Two. He hauled supplies through the jungles of Burma, walked the long road into China after the war and spent his later life at Taipei Zoo, where he lived to the age of eighty-six.
Quick Facts
- Who: Lin Wang, an Asian elephant (bull)
- Born: Around 1917, in Burma (today Myanmar)
- War service: Burma campaign, World War Two
- Later home: Taipei Zoo, Taiwan
- Died: February 2003, aged about 86
Two Armies in the Burmese Jungle
During World War Two, elephants were used to carry supplies and pull heavy loads through jungle where trucks could not go. Lin Wang was first put to work by the Japanese army. In 1945, Chinese forces captured the camp, and he and a group of other elephants went on to serve the Chinese army instead.
The Long Road to Taiwan
When the war ended, the elephants were marched from Burma into China, a hard journey that not all of them survived. Lin Wang did. In 1947 General Sun Li-jen sent him to Taiwan, and in 1954 he was moved to Taipei Zoo.
Grandpa Lin Wang
At the zoo he became a national favorite. Generations of children grew up visiting him and called him Grandpa Lin Wang, and every year the zoo held a celebration for his birthday. He outlived all of the elephants who had marched with him.
Lin Wang died in February 2003. He was the oldest known elephant in captivity at the time, and people across Taiwan mourned him. He was named an honorary citizen of Taipei.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Lin Wang when he died?
He was about 86 years old when he died in February 2003 at Taipei Zoo.
Did Lin Wang really serve in World War Two?
Yes. He worked as a transport elephant in the Burma campaign, first for the Japanese army and then, after his camp was captured in 1945, for Chinese forces.
Where is Lin Wang now?
His preserved body is held by Taiwan's National Taiwan Museum, and he is remembered at Taipei Zoo.
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Sources
- Wikipedia: Lin Wang: his service, journey and life at Taipei Zoo
- Wikipedia: Burma campaign: the war in the Burmese jungle
- Wikipedia: Sun Li-jen: the general who brought him to Taiwan
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Cover photo: peellden via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.