Lin Wang - Legacy

Legacy

Compared to the average life expectancy of 70 for a typical Asian elephant, Lin Wang lived much longer and died at the age of 86. He is the longest-living elephant in captivity, surpassing Lakshmikutty from India who reached the age of 84 before she died in 1997.

In addition to his service to the army, Lin Wang also became a cultural icon and an inseparable part in the memories of many. His life mirrored important events in history, such as the wars in China and later the economic miracle of Taiwan, and three generations of people remember him fondly as a part of national identity. In 2004 Lin Wang was immortalized in a life-size specimen in Taipei Zoo.