Jayathu
President Jayewardene presents Jayathu to President Reagan on the south lawn
SpeciesElephas maximus
SexFemale
Born1983
Sri Lanka
DiedAugust 30, 1984
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Cause of deathSchistosomiasis
Known forElephant of US president, Ronald Reagan

Jayathu was a baby elephant given to Ronald Reagan by the president of Sri Lanka, J. R. Jayewardene, as a state gift.[1]

Life

Jayathu was an Asian elephant born sometime in 1983 in Sri Lanka. Local farmers scared away her herd and Jayathu fell into a pit but was rescued and taken into an elephant orphanage. She was later sent via airplane to the National Zoological Park in Washington D.C.

Jayathu, a name that can be translated to "Victory", was eighteen months old by the time she was gifted by J. R. Jayewardene, president of Sri Lanka, to Ronald Reagan and the American people on a state visit to the US on 12 June 1984.[2] The elephant was the symbol of the parties of both presidents, Jayewardene's United National Party and Reagan's Republican Party.[3]

Death

A little bit over two months after being gifted to Ronald Reagan, on 30 August 1984, Jayathu died.[4] Her death was surrounded by disbelief and mystery.

The Sri Lankan ambassador, Ernest Corea, was shocked by the death of Jayathu, stating that the death amongst captive elephants in Sri Lanka is extremely low.[5] Ronald Reagan also stated that he was deeply saddened for not being able to see the elephant grow.[6]

The death of Jayathu remained a mystery until it was later discovered that the cause of death of the elephant was schistosomiasis, a parasitic fluke infection, apparently before even going to the United States.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Jayathu at Smithsonian National Zoological Park in United States - Elephant Encyclopedia and Database". www.elephant.se. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  2. ↑ https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_sic_1681
  3. ↑ https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/remarks-accepting-gift-people-sri-lanka
  4. ↑ Ap (1984-08-31). "Baby Elephant Dies Of Mysterious Illness". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  5. ↑ Weil, Martin (1984-08-31). "Baby Elephant From Sri Lanka Dies at Zoo". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  6. ↑ Jose, Maria; Rodrigues, Jose (2013-01-16), "Study on Schistosomiasis mansoni and Comorbidity with Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection", Parasitic Diseases - Schistosomiasis, InTech, retrieved 2023-09-28
  7. ↑ Ap (1984-09-09). "Parasite Killed Elephant". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-28.


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