Chinese Forces

Old Soldier.

Unknown (Taiwanese) author.

No, not the human - the elephant. This is Lin Wang (formerly Ah Mei) with his commanding officer, Nationalist Chinese general Sun Li-jen, photographed in Taiwan, 1947. Lin Wang was among a group of 13 work elephants captured by Sun Li-jen's forces in a battle with the Japanese in Burma, 1943. Up to then, they had been transporting loads, clearing logs, evacuating casualties and so on through enormously difficult jungle conditions for the Japanese; they had no problem with carrying on doing the same things for the Chinese. Perhaps because of his impressive appearance (Ah Mei means "the Beautiful), his intelligence and calm temperament, the future Lin Wang became a particular favourite of the troops and something of a mascot in the Nationalist army. Recalled to China at the end of WW2, Lin Wang and his surviving companions continued to work for the Guomentang army, their duties including giving circus performances to raise money for famine relief. Most of the group were subsequently dispersed between mainland Chinese zoos. When General Sun was sent to Taiwan to organize new Nationalist troops in 1947, he arrived with two elephants, one of whom was Lin Wang. They continued their load-humping and log-lifting duties, in the course of which Lin Wang's last companion from Burma died. Finally, in 1952, the army decided that Lin Wang should retire to Taipei Zoo. By this time, his popularity had spread from the army to the Taiwanese population in general. His "birthday", on the last Sunday of October, was celebrated by the nation. Lin Wang enjoyed a long and happy retirement, dying of old and its various complications in 2003. He is reckoned to have been 86 years old at the time, making him the oldest elephant to have died in captivity. He was posthumously awarded honorary citizenship of Taipei". The remains of Lin Wang were taxidermised, and enjoy an honored place on exhibition at Taipei Zoo. Best regards, JR.