Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Kandy, Sri Lanka

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Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Type:	Attraction
Preference:	Family, Outdoors, Tourist-free
Description:	EditAs part of the Sri Lankan government’s committment to protect the elephant, authorities the Wildlife Conservation effort also run the Pinnawela orphanage situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, halfway between Colombo and Kandy. This 24 acres elephant orphanage established by Sri Lanka’s Wild Life Department is also a breeding centre for elephants,where twenty elephants were born since 1984 and has the largest herd of elephants in captivity in the world. The orphanage on the other hand, was primarily designed to afford care and protection to the many baby elephants found in the jungle without their mothers. In most of these cases the mother had either died or been killed. In some instances, the baby had fallen into a pit and in others the mother had fallen in and died. This facility attracts both local and foreign visitors and the income helps to maintain the activities of the orphanage.There are only a few elephant orphanages in the world. Pinnawela has now become one of the bigger orphanages and is quite well known world wide. Elephants hold aesthetic, cultural and economic importance in Sri Lanka. They are used for carrying timber and have a special significance and role at religious events. The Sri Lankan elephant is protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance of Sri Lanka (FFPO), and killing it, carries the death penalty. Sri Lankan authorities do everything in their power to care for and protect these large fascinating, highly intelligent animals, which otherwise could disappear into extinction. While Elephants provide tourism revenue amounting to billions of rupees, authorities also spend a substantial amount of funds and resources to protect them. As part of the Sri Lankan government’s committment to protect the elephant, authorities the Wildlife Conservation effort also run the Pinnawela orphanage situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, halfway between Colombo and Kandy. This 24 acres elephant orphanage established by Sri Lanka’s Wild Life Department is also a breeding centre for elephants,where twenty elephants were born since 1984 and has the largest herd of elephants in captivity in the world. The orphanage on the other hand, was primarily designed to afford care and protection to the many baby elephants found in the jungle without their mothers. In most of these cases the mother had either died or been killed. In some instances, the baby had fallen into a pit and in others the mother had fallen in and died. This facility attracts both local and foreign visitors and the income helps to maintain the activities of the orphanage.There are only a few elephant orphanages in the world. Pinnawela has now become one of the bigger orphanages and is quite well known world wide. Elephants hold aesthetic, cultural and economic importance in Sri Lanka. They are used for carrying timber and have a special significance and role at religious events. The Sri Lankan elephant is protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance of Sri Lanka (FFPO), and killing it, carries the death penalty. Sri Lankan authorities do everything in their power to care for and protect these large fascinating, highly intelligent animals, which otherwise could disappear into extinction. While Elephants provide tourism revenue amounting to billions of rupees, authorities also spend a substantial amount of funds and resources to protect them. or Cancel

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Pinnawala, Sri Lanka

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Facts:

Other names:	Pinnawala
Opening Hours:	8.30 a.m to 5.30 p.m
Rates:	Rs 2,000 ( US$ 20)
Website:	http://etravelersrilanka.com/index.jsp
Email:	mapriyanga@gmail.com
Telephone:	0094778290857
Fax:
Public Transport:	avaliable
Parking:	Rs 50/=
First to Review:	Priyanga Fernando

Reviews

Is this review helpful?

(11 people find this review helpful)

Favorable

Attraction , Family , Outdoors Updated 479 days ago

A must for the visitor to Sri Lanka. It is a huge attraction, but then , who would not want to see a herd of Elephants ? Specially the bath time in the River nearby and Bottle Feeding of the Smaller Elephants draw large crowds, both foreign and Local.

Offensive review?

Review by Anil Pathmaperuma

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(3 people find this review helpful)

Favorable

Attraction , Outdoors Updated 586 days ago

The Pinnewela Elephant Orphanage is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, halfway between the present capital Colombo and the ancient royal residence Kandy in the hills of central Sri Lanka. It was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka wildlife department in a 25-acre coconut property near the Maha Oya river. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungle. As of 2008, there are about 84 elephants.

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Review by www.srilankatrekking.com

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(2 people find this review helpful)

Favorable

Attraction , $$ Updated 606 days ago

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is an orphanage and breeding ground for wild elephants which is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, Sri Lanka. It was established in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife Conservation on a 25-acre (10 ha) coconut plantation on the Maha Oya river. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungle. As of 2008, there were 84 elephants. The aim of the orphanage is to simulate the natural world. However, there are some exceptions: the elephants are taken to the river twice daily for a bath, and all the babies under three years of age are still bottle fed by the mahouts and volunteers. Each animal is also given around 76 kilograms (170 lb) of green manure a day and around 2 kg (4.4 lb) from a food bag containing rice bran and maize. They get access to water twice a day, from the river. This elephant orphanage is also a breeding place for elephants. More than twenty-three elephants have been born since 1984, and the orphanage has the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. While most of the elephants are healthy, one is blind, and one, named Sama, has lost her front right leg to a land mine.

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Review by Hadi Husham

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(1 people find this review helpful)

Favorable

Attraction , Family , Tourist-free Updated 718 days ago

Pinnawala is about 80km away from Colombo. If you are Planing a trip to Kandy from Colombo, enroute you can visit Pinnawala. Feeding time in the morning is the best time to visit Pinnawala. Public transportaion is available but arranged transport would be the best way to visit the place.

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Review by Lion Lanka Tours

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(3 people find this review helpful)

Critical

Attraction , Family Updated 740 days ago

Pinnawela orphanage situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, halfway between Colombo and Kandy. This 24 acres elephant orphanage established by Sri Lanka’s Wild Life Department is also a breeding centre for elephants,where twenty elephants were born since 1984 and has the largest herd of elephants in captivity in the world. The orphanage on the other hand, was primarily designed to afford care and protection to the many baby elephants found in the jungle without their mothers. In most of these cases the mother had either died or been killed. There are only a few elephant orphanages in the world. Pinnawela has now become one of the bigger orphanages and is quite well known world wide. This is a very famous place for the tourist around the world & locals as well, for the tourist government charge Rs 2000 (US$20) per person. The activities includes Babby Elephant Bottle Feeding, Elephants Taking Bath in the natural river & the Orphange

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Review by Priyanga Fernando

20 Locals recommend this!