Jayathu
Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) at
Smithsonian National Zoological Park Washington in United States

Biography

☨ ♀ Jayathu
President Junius Richard Jayewardene of Sri Lanka presents a baby elephant to President Ronald Reagan and the American people on the south lawn. (White House Photo Office)

Identification

SSP nr	298

Description
Species:	Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
Subspecies:	Elephas maximus maximus
Sex and age:	Female ♀, unknown age
Origin
Born:	* 1983-01-00 wild
Birth place:	in Sri Lanka unspecified location
Death
Dead:	†1984-08-29
Death reason:	unknown:
Locations - owners
Present / last location:	Smithsonian National Zoological Park Washington, in United States

Date of arrival

1984-06-11	Smithsonian National Zoological Park Washington from Dehiwela Zoo

	Dehiwela Zoo from Sri Lanka unspecified location

Record history
History of updates	2010-05-11:

Latest document update	2021-08-04 00:51:39
Google map

† Jayathu is a dead Female ♀ Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), , who died 1984-08-29 at Smithsonian National Zoological Park Washington, in United States, .

Origin

Comments / pictures

The elephant was a gift from Sri Lanka to USA and President Reagan.

Reference list

References

Koehl, Dan, (2026). Jayathu, Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) located at Smithsonian National Zoological Park Washington in United States. Elephant Encyclopedia, available online retrieved 22 April 2026 at https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=2560. (archived at the Wayback machine)