Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

Sri Lanka’s gentle giants.

Elephants have been an integral part of Sri Lanka throughout history. The elephant is a symbol of strength. It was used as a means of transport and conveyance by the ancient Kings of this island. Kings have lead their armies while on elephant back, giving them a vantage view over the battle fields. There is much conflict between man and this pachyderm, as man develops and clears the jungle habitats of this majestic species. Man has had to protect himself from the marauding herds who are enticed by the sugar cane plantations.

Today there are intensive elephant conservations programmes and the villagers are being educated into living in harmony with the elephant by learning not only to protect themselves against the animal, but growing crops that are not so acceptable to the tastes of the elephant, i.e. crops that have a pinus base etc..

Origins

It began in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife on a twenty five acre coconut property on the Maha Oya river at Rambukkana. The orphanage was primarily designed to provide care, feed, nurse and protect the many baby elephants found abandoned in the jungle without their mothers. Often the young ones fall into pits and ravines in their quest for water during the period of drought. Other inmates at the orphanage are those displaced from their natural environs by development projects or those found diseased or wounded.

Initially this orphanage was at the Wilpattu National Park, then shifted to the tourist complex at Bentota and then to the Dehiwala Zoo. From the Zoo it was shifted to Pinnawela. At the time it was shifted the orphanage had five baby elephants which formed its nucleus.

In 1978 the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage was taken over by the National Zoological Gardens from the Department of Wildlife and a captive breeding program launched in 1982. At Pinnawela an attempt was made to simulate, in a limited way, the conditions in the wild. Animals are allowed to roam freely during the day and a herd structure allowed to form.

The elephant orphanage is about 13 Km. from Kegalle town, on the Kegalle- Rambukkana Road. Kegalle is 77 Km. from Colombo on the Colombo- Kandy road and the turn off to the orphanage is at the Karandupona Junction. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage Tel: 035-65804

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is home to about 70 elephants, out of which many are baby elephants found, abandoned or orphaned in the wild. They are being cared, fed and trained by the wild life authorities. It has become the largest captive group of elephants in the world. Orphaned young elephants whose parents have been the victims of poachers or accidents are tamed, reared & trained herein to eventually become working beasts.

Feeding

The elephants, which roam freely in the parkland, are ‘herded’ by their mahouts (keepers) just before being taken to feeding sheds. The best time to visit is during feeding times, when one has the opportunity of seeing the baby elephants being bottle-fed. Also you could accompany the elephants to the river close-by and watch the elephants having their daily bath, while the babies frolic in the water.