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 and many Taipei citizens crowded along the streets to see the animals, particularly Lin Wang, move house. In early 2003 Lin Wang suffered arthritis on his left hind leg. He started to lose appetite along with other complications. His condition deteriorated and he died on 26 February. 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 made a 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." Legacy Compared to the average life expectancy of 70 for a typical Asian elephant, Lin Wang lived much longer, dying in his eighty-sixth year. 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 immortalised in a life-size specimen in Taipei Zoo credited to taxidermist, Lin-Wen Lung (林文龍). See also War elephant Timothy (tortoise) List of individual elephants References Further reading Beloved elephant Lin Wang passes away, by Chang Meng-jui, translated by Jonathan Barnard, from Sino. Taipei's Elephant to be included in Guinness Book of Records, from the Central News Agency. 1917 animal births 2003 animal deaths Taipei Zoo Individual elephants Military