The Elephant That Served in War and Became the pride of Taiwan
The magnificent life of an elephant that served in the Second World War, walked a thousand miles home, and became the pride of an entire nation
In February 2003, a very special animal passed away at the age of 86. This animal was the Indian elephant Ah Mei. This is the story of Ah Mei, an elephant that not only will forever live in the hearts of the Taiwanese people but one that led an unbelievable and unforgettable life.
Ah Mei was born in 1917 somewhere in the jungles of British Burma, now Myanmar. Not much is known about his early life. It is assumed that Ah Mei lived a peaceful life with his companions until 1942, the year that everything changed for him.
The War
In 1942, after closing in on the British colonies, the Japanese imperial army invaded and occupied Burma. Ah Mei ended up in the hands of the Japanese and was used along with twelve other elephants to haul army supplies through the dense jungles. Throughout history, the use of elephants in war has been very common, and the Second World War was no exception.
A year later, in 1943, the Republican army of the Chinese invaded Burma in an attempt to defeat the Japanese. After a battle between the two enemies, Ah Mei and twelve other elephants were captured by the Chinese. Ah Mei continued its heavy labor in the Burmese jungles and highlands, only now for the Chinese army. The group of brave elephants most likely walked for thousands of miles through the thick forests, over mountain passes, and along rivers.
It is believed that Ah Mei was very much loved by the Chinese soldiers in the group. One must understand that for several years the elephants and the young Chinese men shared each others’ faith, experiencing trauma, storm and rain, and losing companions along the way. Ah Mei and the soldiers depended on each other and an unbreakable bond formed over time. The elephant was loved because of his gentleness as he endured the hardship with his comrades. Around this time the soldiers gave him his name, meaning “the Beautiful One” in Chinese Mandarin.
The jungle campaign of the Chinese continued until 1945, when the Chinese forces were called back home to China. However, this was not the end of his service in the army for Ah Mei. On the contrary, this was the beginning of an arduous journey. The Chinese army in Burma was one of the most remote and isolated forces of the Chinese, and the way home would prove to be long and hard.
The Burma Road
The Chinese forces active in the Burmese highlands were not being evacuated or picked up; they were to walk back. The only way across land from Burma to China was along the infamous Burma Road, a 717 mile long (1,154 km) road connecting Burma with Southern China. The road was constructed in 1937 by 200,000 Burmese and Chinese labourers in order to supply China during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Although the elephants and the soldiers were out of war, they were not out of danger on the Burma Road. The road was long and in many places treacherous, swirling along steep ravines, and often being in dreadful condition. Eventually, Ah Mei made it to China, but not everyone survived. Among the ones lost along the way were six elephants. It is unknown how they passed away. Possibilities include accidents during dangerous segments of the road, maybe illness, or simply exhaustion from walking days on end. By the time the group arrived in Kwantung, now called Guangdong, the war was over.
To Taiwan
After arrival in Guangdong, seven of the initial thirteen elephants were left, and their time of service was not over yet. The group did various kinds of work for a couple of years; helping constructing monuments and performing in a circus for charity. Eventually, four of the elephants were sent to different zoos in China. In 1947, Ah Mei and two of his companions were taken to the island of Taiwan. One of the three elephants died on the way to Taiwan, and Ah Mei and his only remaining companion arrived in Taiwan, the place that would be his home for the rest of his life.
Ah Mei and his comrade were deployed at an army base in the south of the island to help with simple tasks like transporting heavy material. In 1951, the last elephant accompanying Ah Mei passed away, and Ah Mei was alone. Soon after that, he was relieved of his service, and at an age of 35, he was sent to the Taipei Zoo. It is said that along the way from the harbour to the Taipei zoo the streets crowded with families and children, all excited to see Ah Mei, and they loved the animal from the first moment they laid eyes on him.
Taiwanese pride
Soon, Ah Mei was without a doubt the most popular animal in Taiwan, being one of the favourite attractions for people visiting Taipei. Ah Mei was not alone in the zoo; here he met Ma Lan, a female elephant that would be his companion for the rest of his life. In 1983, the zoo organised a birthday party when Ah Mei turned 66. From this moment on, his birthday was celebrated each year, attracting countless visitors.
In 2002, after being a wonderful companion for decades, Ah Mei’s life-long companion Ma Lan passed away. From that moment on his health started deteriorating and he started to lose his appetite. On the 26th of February in 2003 Ah Mei passed away. His caretakers stated that he had a peaceful death. His memorial service lasted for weeks and many thousands of people visited and paid their respects to Ah Mei. The president at the time sent a card addressing Ah Mei: “To our forever friend.”
Ah Mei probably never forgot his time in the jungles and mountains of Burma. The peaceful years when he was young, but also the traumatic times in war. He most likely remembered the smell of fire and battle and the sounds of gunshots and fear among his fellow elephants. Elephants do not forget and elephants mourn. He would have mourned his lost companions that passed away on the long Burma road, as well as the death of his Ma Lan, just one year before his own. Ah Mei was not just special, he was magnificent, and he deserved every ounce of love that the Taiwanese offered him. Ah Mei, our friend forever.
