Hill Country
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Generations of rescued elephants, raised together.
Why Visit
One of the most reliable places in Sri Lanka to see elephants at close range, including the herd's twice-daily walk to the river to bathe.
A sanctuary founded in 1975 for orphaned and injured wild elephants, now home to a large herd spanning several generations.
History
The orphanage was established in 1975 by Sri Lanka's Department of Wildlife Conservation on a coconut property beside the Maha Oya river, initially as a place to care for a handful of orphaned wild elephant calves found abandoned or injured in the forest, often after their mothers were killed or separated during land clearance and agricultural expansion. Over the following decades, the founding animals bred within the sanctuary, and the herd grew across several generations into one of the largest groups of captive-bred elephants in the world, now numbering in the dozens and including several generations descended from the original rescued calves. The daily walk to the river to bathe became an organic part of the elephants' routine rather than a staged event, and it remains the sanctuary's best-known ritual. A small local industry making paper from elephant dung has also grown up around the orphanage in nearby workshops, an unusual but genuine offshoot of its presence.
Things to Do
- Watch the herd's river bathing walk
- See elephant calves being bottle-fed
- Learn about the orphanage's rescue work
- Visit the on-site elephant orphanage museum
- See the elephant-dung paper workshop nearby
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage known for?
One of the most reliable places in Sri Lanka to see elephants at close range, including the herd's twice-daily walk to the river to bathe.
When is the best time to visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage?
The best time to visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is year-round; the river bathing happens daily, weather permitting.
What can you do in Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage?
Popular things to do in Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage include watch the herd's river bathing walk, see elephant calves being bottle-fed and learn about the orphanage's rescue work.
Where is Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage located in Sri Lanka?
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is located in Hill Country, Sri Lanka.
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