The U.S. Naval Institute shares an odd story from the Vietnam War. Admiral John S. McCain (father of the Navy pilot, POW, Senator, and Presidential candidate John S. McCain) commanded U.S. naval forces the western Pacific in 1971. The prime minister of the then-government of Cambodia presented him with an elephant.
Admiral McCain would not diplomatically refuse. As the value of the elephant, who was named Chamrocun, exceeded $50, the US government accepted the gift on the admiral's behalf.
Now what do you do with your own elephant? It could not stay in the admiral's quarters. A UPI article from the time reports that an Air Force C-141 transport aircraft took the elephant to Los Angeles where, another contemporary newspaper article reports, Mayor Sam Yorty had arranged for him to reside in the city zoo.