Elephant, 70, Feted on Birthday in Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan — About 150,000 children and adults gathered Saturday at the Taipei Municipal Zoo to celebrate the 70th birthday of Taiwan’s oldest elephant with cakes, songs, folk dances, and puppet shows.

Lin Wang, the zoo’s most popular attraction, lolled by the side of his female companion of 30 years, Ma Lan, as young children performed outside their pen and unveiled birthday presents, including a 7-foot-high sugar cane.

Zoo officials said Lin Wang is in good health. The animal, which arrived at the Taipei Zoo in 1945, was used to transport supplies for the Japanese army in Burma during World War II.