In Taiwan
In 1947, Sun Li-jen was sent to Taiwan to train new troops. He took the three elephants with him, though one sick elephant died during the trip across the strait. The two remaining elephants were used to transport logs and accomplish other simple tasks near the army base in Fongshan, Kaohsiung. In 1951 the other elephant died and Lin Wang became the only one left of the original thirteen elephants from the Burmese days.
In 1952, the army decided to give Lin Wang to Taipei Zoo at Yuanshan (圓山), where he met his lifelong mate Malan (馬蘭). At this time, Lin Wang was still named "Ah Mei" and the keeper of the zoo felt that the name was too feminine. Thus, his name was changed to "King of the Forest" (森林之王), abbreviated "Lín Wáng" (林王). However, a reporter misheard the name and published his name as Lín Wàng (林旺, different character and different intonation), and this name stuck forever.
Lin Wang became the most famous and popular animal in Taiwan, and in 1983 the zoo threw the first birthday party for his sixty-sixth birthday. Since then, his birthday was celebrated every year on the last Sunday of October at the zoo, attracting thousands of visitors, including visitations from Taipei mayors. In 1986, the zoo relocated from Yuanshan to Mucha (木柵), and many Taipei citizens crowded along the streets to see the animals, particularly Lin Wang's, "house moving." (搬家)
In early 2003 Lin Wang suffered arthritis on his left hind leg. He started to lose appetite along with other complications, his condition started to go down hill rapidly and on February 26, Lin Wang died.
His "memorial service," which lasted several weeks, was visited by tens of thousands of people, many of whom left cards and flowers for the elephant. Lin Wang was posthumously awarded "Honorary Taipei Citizen" by Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou. President Chen Shui-bian sent a wreath, with a card addressing "to our forever friend, Lin Wang."
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