The following is a list of culturally or scientifically notable elephants.
Actors Chirakkal Kalidasan, one of the tallest elephants in Kerala, also notable for acting in some films, including the 2017 epic film, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. Tai, known for featuring in the films The Jungle Book (1994), Larger than Life (1996), George of the Jungle (1997) and Water for Elephants (2011).
Fame by proxy to owner Abul-Abbas, Charlemagne's elephant The Cremona elephant, given to Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II by the Sultan of Egypt in 1229. Elephant of Henry III (c. 1245–14 February 1257), given to Henry III of England by Louis IX of France. Hanno (1510-1516), pet elephant of Pope Leo X. Jayathu, elephant gifted by J. R. Jayewardene to Ronald Reagan in 1984. Shanthi, elephant gifted by Sri Lanka to Jimmy Carter and the American children in 1976. Suleiman the elephant, presented in 1551 to Maximilian II, the Holy Roman Emperor, by John III, the King of Portugal, and named after the Ottoman Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent.
Wild elephants Echo, matriarch who was called the "most studied elephant in the world, the subject of several books and documentaries, including two NATURE films". Isilo of Tembe Elephant Park was one of South Africa’s largest African elephants. Craig of Amboseli National Park was one of Kenya’s largest African elephants. Kongad Kuttisankaran, one of the few native elephants born in Kerala to have a height of more than 309 cm. Raja Gaj, bull elephant which lived in the Bardiya National Park, Nepal. He was considered to be one of the world's largest Asian elephants of modern times. Satao, one of the largest African elephants; he had unusually large tusks and was killed by poachers in 2014 who stole the ivory. (Another supertusker, named Satao 2 or Satao II, was killed in 2017, leaving six surviving supertuskers. Satao 2/Satao II's tusks were, however, intact, as the poachers did not have the chance to take them.)
Working elephants
Circus elephants Fanny, former circus elephant that resided in Slater Park Zoo in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, from 1958 to 1993. She was moved to the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch sanctuary in 1993 because the city closed the zoo exhibits due to financial crises. She lived the last ten years of her life at the sanctuary and died in 2003. A statue to her memory stands in Slater Park. Hansken, female Sri Lankan elephant who toured many European countries from 1637 to 1655 demonstrating circus tricks. John L. Sullivan (c.1860–April 1932), boxing elephant in Adam Forepaugh's circus. In 1922, he made a pilgrimage from Madison Square Garden to the Elephant Hotel in Somers, New York, to pay tribute to the elephant "Old Bet", laying a wreath on her monument. Jumbo, P. T. Barnum's elephant whose name is the origin of the word jumbo (meaning "very large" or "oversized"). The African elephant was given the name Jumbo by zookeepers at the London Zoo. The name was most likely derived from the Swahili word jumbe meaning "chief". Lallah Rookh, elephant with Dan Rice's circus. She died of a fever in 1860 after swimming across the Ohio River. Mademoiselle D'Jeck, performed in plays in Europe and the United States in the 19th century Old Bet, early American circus elephant owned by Hachaliah Bailey. On 24 July 1816, she was shot and killed while on tour near Alfred, Maine, by a farmer who thought it was sinful for poor people to waste money on a traveling circus. Old Bet's owner responded by building a three-story memorial called the Elephant Hotel, which now serves as a town hall. Old Hannibal, part of Isaac A. Van Amburgh's menagerie. Salt and Sauce, considered the most famous British elephants of their era and mentioned in several circus books. Tillie, the mascot of the John Robinson Circus known for wintering and spending her retirement in Terrace Park, Ohio. Tusko, Asian elephant who resided at the Oregon Zoo in Portland from 2005 until his death in 2015.
Carrying elephants Balarama, preceded Arjuna; was the Golden Howdah-carrier between 1999 and 2011. Drona, one of the lead Dasara Elephants of the Jamboo Savari of Mysore Dasara; he carried the Golden Howdah for a record 18 years consecutive years between 1981 and 1997. Guruvayur Keshavan, Indian elephant associated with the Guruvayur temple in Kerala. The elephant was cited for exhibiting "extremely devout behaviour". Pampadi Rajan, one of the tallest elephants in Kerala. Paramekkavu Rajendran, elephant from Kerala who holds the record of participating in the most Thrissur Poorams for 50 years.
Trained/rescue elephants (kumki) Arjuna, trained rescue elephant with the Karnataka Forest Department who died in battle with a wild bull elephant; one or both may have been in musth. Arjuna was also a lead elephant of the Mysore Dasara procession who carried the idol of the deity Chamundeshwari on the Golden Howdah. Chinna Thambi (or Chinnathambi), a rogue crop-raider turned kumki, who succeeded kumki extraordinaire Kaleem, who retired after 99 successful missions.
War elephants Kandula, the royal war elephant of the Sri Lankan prince Dutugamunu in the 2nd century BC. The king and his elephant grew up together. (A Sri Lankan elephant which was born on 25 November 2001 at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. is named after Kandula.) Lin Wang, Burmese elephant which served with the Chinese Expeditionary Force during the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) and later moved to Taiwan with the Kuomintang army. Lin Wang became a fond childhood memory among many Taiwanese. When he died at 86 years old in 2003, he was (and still is) the longest-living captive elephant. Maha Pambata, war elephant belonging to Tamil King Ellalan. Surus ("the Syrian"), mentioned as the bravest of Hannibal's 37 war elephants which crossed the Alps in 218 BC during the Second Punic War, by Cato the Elder in his book Origines.
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