Lin Wang was a young elephant in Burma. Japanese soldiers forced him to haul supplies and pull artillery through the jungle during World War II. Chinese troops captured him in 1943. He marched home along the Burma Road, then sailed to Taiwan in 1947. He spent nearly 49 years at Taipei Zoo as Taiwan's most beloved animal. Lin Wang died in 2003 at 86, the longest living elephant ever recorded in captivity.
The Elephant Who Fought in WWII and Lived to 86
Most zoo animals live and die without ever making the news. Lin Wang did the opposite. Before he was Taiwan's most beloved elephant, he was a prisoner of war.
A Captive of the Jungle War
Lin Wang was born around 1917 in British Burma. When Japanese forces occupied the region during World War II, they put him and a dozen other elephants to work, forcing them to haul supplies and pull heavy artillery pieces through terrain no truck could cross.
In 1943, Chinese Expeditionary Force troops fighting the Burma Campaign captured the elephants from the Japanese army during a raid on their camp.
The Long March Home
When Japan surrendered in 1945, the Chinese army recalled its troops from Burma, and the elephants marched out with them along the brutal Burma Road.
Six of the thirteen elephants died during the trek. Lin Wang survived.
In 1947, General Sun Li-jen shipped the last three elephants across the strait to Taiwan.
One died during the crossing. By 1951, Lin Wang's remaining companion had also died, leaving him the sole survivor of the original group.
Grandpa Lin Wang
In October 1954, the army donated Lin Wang to Taipei Zoo, where he was paired with a mate named Malan.
He quickly became the zoo's star attraction. Taiwanese children grew up calling him "Grandpa Lin Wang," and starting with his 66th birthday in 1983, the zoo threw him a public birthday party every year on the last Sunday of October, drawing thousands of visitors.
The Longest Living Elephant on Record
Lin Wang's health began to fail in early 2003 with arthritis in his hind leg and a fading appetite.
He died on February 26, 2003, at the age of 86; an autopsy found cardiopulmonary failure as the cause.
That made him one of the longest living elephants ever recorded in captivity, well past the roughly 70-year life expectancy of a typical Asian elephant.
His death triggered a wave of public mourning rarely seen for an animal: an estimated 180,000 people visited Taipei Zoo over three days to pay their respects.
An Honorary Citizen
Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou posthumously made Lin Wang an honorary citizen of the city, and President Chen Shui-bian sent a wreath addressed "to our forever friend, Lin Wang."
A wooden statue of the elephant was placed outside his old enclosure, and in 2004 his body was preserved and put on permanent display at the zoo, where visitors can still see the elephant who marched out of a war and became a nation's grandfather.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Verified Fact
Verified Jul 16, 2026 · 3 sources checked
Source: WikipediaShow verification details
Claims checked
- Lin Wang was captured from Japanese forces in Burma in 1943
- He served on both sides, first hauling supplies for the Japanese army
- Six of the original 13 elephants died during the 1945 Burma Road march
- He was shipped to Taiwan in 1947, became sole survivor of his group by 1951
- He died February 26, 2003, at age 86, holding the Guinness record for longest-lived captive elephant
Sources: Wikipedia, Taipei Times, Taiwan Panorama