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MY SRI LANKAThe Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is situated in the village of Pinnawala, within the Kegalle district, approximately 90km away from Colombo.
The National Zoological Gardens assumed control of the orphanage in 1978, previously managed by the Department of Wildlife. In 1982, a captive breeding initiative was initiated, resulting in the successful breeding of more than 20 elephants to date. The primary objective of the orphanage is to provide a simulated natural environment for these elephants. Nevertheless, there are a few exceptions to this, such as the elephants being taken to the river twice daily for bathing, and the mahouts and volunteers continuing to bottle-feed all elephants under the age of three.
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is conveniently accessible through the A1 Colombo – Kandy main road. By taking a turn off at the 82 km post in Kegalle, you will be directed towards the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. If you prefer to travel by train, the nearest railway station is located in Rambukkana, which is only 2km away from the village of Pinnawala.
The main objective of the orphanage is to provide a lifeline to both orphaned baby elephants and adult elephants who have lost their way in the wilderness. There have been various instances where the mother of a baby elephant has been killed or accidents have occurred where baby elephants have fallen into pits and become separated from their herd. There have also been cases where the mother elephant has fallen into a pit and died, leaving the baby elephant alone in the jungle. Additionally, there have been instances where adult elephants have been killed by farmers in order to protect their paddy fields and crops, resulting in orphaned baby elephants. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was established to offer the best possible opportunities to these unfortunate victims. At the orphanage, the elephants are not subjected to any form of stress, abuse, or threat. They are cared for by a team of over 100 employees, including a group of mahouts. The enclosed land of the orphanage allows the herd to freely move around, providing the elephants with opportunities to mate. In 1984, the first baby elephant was born at Pinnawela. Today, some of these orphans are fortunate enough to witness the birth of their third generation at the orphanage. Furthermore, with the assistance of local and foreign elephant experts, the orphanage has initiated a scientific captive-breeding program for elephants. Since then, it has become one of the most successful captive breeding programs for Asian elephants.
