Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

One of the foremost trendy tourist attractions in Sri Lanka is the Pinnawela Elephant orphanage. This Elephant Orphanage is located at Pinnawala, Kegalle district, in Sabaragamuwa District. The main access is from Colombo- Kandy main road and turn towards Rambukkana. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage was established in 1975 by the Sri Lankan Wildlife Department. But now Pinnawela Elephant orphanage is under authorization of National Zoological Garden.

The first elephant baby was born in 1984 and it has the greatest herd of elephants. From 1975 to 2012 the births of 65 animals has occurred according to the records. It was established as a sanctuary covering 25 acres of copious jungle by the Sri Lankan Government. This Elephant Orphanage is providing the shelter to a herd of around 75 elephants.

The purpose of building this Orphanage is to afford care and protection to the many baby elephants as well as feed, nurse and house elephants lost or abandoned. The sanctuary consists of a breeding program.

Although some people say that Pinnawela has wild elephants but there are tamed elephants who actually like to play in the morning and evening. The secret behind is the difference between the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala and Ath Athuru Sevana Transit Home at Udawalawe  is that at the Transit Home baby elephants once cared for are released to the wilds when they reach a certain age. 

Within the sanctuary premises the elephants roam freely during the daylight hours. The herd of elephants naturally takes the shape of herd structure. Some of the names of elephants are Vijaya, Neela, Hema, Mathalee, Randivi, Mahaweli, Kumari, Diula, Anuscha, Kadira, Komali, Weera. There is a map in front of the Elephant Orphanage as visitors initially enter which help guests find their way around the Orphanage. According to the research conducted demonstrate that there are 143 total elephants kept and at present 73 elephants and 65 births have happened and 47 have relocated and 23 deaths have occurred.  

The guests are requested to stay or walk through these paths. Palm trees and sun-scorched earth provides a natural locale for the elephants. Visitors can take as much as photos they like in this Pinnawela Elephant orphanage.  On daily basis the following programs are conducted to the elephants.

·         08.00 am: - The babies are fed on milk and allowed to range freely on the 12 acres large grassland.

·         10.00 am and 2.00 pm the elephants are walked 400 meters to the Maha Oya River. There the elephants have a 2 hours bath under the water as grateful gaze of spectators.

These time ranges allow guests to take snap photos of elephant bathing and playing in water. The majestic sights of frolicking and splashing in the waters make fun to the small children to be enjoying the scenery. The leaves are mainly Coconut leaves, branches from Jackfruit and leaves, branches, logs of Kitul tree are the food the elephants eat. This is not a place where tourists can go on elephant rides.