Aug
30

Today in Smithsonian History: August 30, 1984

Jayathu receives a pat from President Ronald Reagan. (Photo by Jessie Cohen)

Jayathu receives a pat from President Ronald Reagan. (Photo by Jessie Cohen as featured in the Torch, August 1984)

August 30, 1984 Jayathu, an Asian elephant, dies after apparently suffering an allergic reaction to her infant formula. She was presented to President Ronald Reagan as a gift from J.R. Jayawardene of Sri Lanka and arrived at the National Zoological Park on June 12, 1984.

Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution Archives

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Posted: 30 August 2019
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