Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is a wonderland for wild jumbos and nature lovers. As per the name it’s an orphanage and breeding ground for wild elephants. Located in the northwest of Kegalle town, on scenic Colombo-Kandy Road, the orphanage has the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is home to nearly 84 elephants.

Establishment:

This beautiful home of wild elephants was established in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife Conservation on a 25-acre (10 ha) coconut plantation on the banks of Maha Oya river. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungle. But, in 1978 the orphanage was taken over by the Department of National Zoological Garden and in 1982 an elephant breeding program was launched.

Tourism:

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is very popular among both national and international tourists. The orphanage is open to the public daily, and all admission fees are used to look after the elephants.The main attraction of this orphanage is that from here one can observe daily activities of elephants from a close corner. Visitors can witness bottle feeding of elephant calves by Mahouts and Volunteers, old ones are feed mainly on coconut leaves, branches and logs of Jackfruit and Kitual Palm tree and bathing of elephants at the Maha Oya River. Everyday elephants are taken twice (10 a.m and 2 p.m) daily at the river for a bath.