Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Sri Lanka was set up in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife of the country. This orphanage was set up in Sri Lanka to give shelter and to take care of baby elephants. An orphanage for baby elephants was initially set up at Wilpattu National Park but later it was shifted to Bentota and again to Dehiwala Zoo.
It was from 1975, that the elephant orphanage was shifted to Pinnawala. This orphanage also aims at attracting visitors and the income would help the concerned department to maintain the elephant orphanage. Later in 1978, the National Zoological Gardens took up the responsibility to maintain the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is situated halfway between Kandy and Colombo. From Rambukkana junction the distance of this orphanage is only 3 km. Tourists can avail bus service from either Colombo or Kandy to reach this elephant orphanage.
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage remains open for the visitors from 8.30 in the morning to 4 in the evening. The elephants are taken out from the orphanage to graze for a couple of hours in the morning. Then they are taken to the nearby Ma Oya river. In the noon the elephants are fed. Then again the animals are again taken to the river and they are brought back to the orphanage.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Map

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