Taiwan’s Oldest Elephant Feted

He was captured from the Japanese army in World War II, joined the Nationalist flight from the Communist takeover of China in 1949, and turned 78 on Sunday - or so his keepers think.

He is Lin Wang, the oldest elephant in Taiwan.

More than 300 adults and children turned up at Taipei City Zoo to join Mayor Chen Shui-bian in sharing a large birthday cake and singing “Happy Birthday.”

Lin Wang was one of 13 elephants captured by Chinese troops in Burma in 1943 from the Japanese army, which used them to transport supplies.