The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is one of Sri Lanka’s most famous and heart-warming attractions. Founded in 1975, it was created by the Sri Lankan government to care for orphaned, injured, and abandoned elephants found in the wild. Located near the town of Kegalle, the orphanage covers around 25 acres of land and is home to the largest herd of captive Asian elephants in the world. This special place gives visitors a rare chance to get close to these gentle giants while supporting efforts to protect and care for them.
PURPOSE AND MISSION
The main goal of Pinnawala is to provide shelter, food, and medical care for elephants that cannot survive in the wild. Many of these elephants were separated from their herds or injured due to human-wildlife conflict, which remains a serious issue in rural Sri Lanka. The orphanage helps these elephants live safely and comfortably in a natural environment. In Sri Lankan culture, all life is considered precious, and euthanizing injured animals is avoided — instead, every elephant at Pinnawala is given a chance to live with dignity and proper care.
The orphanage also contributes to conservation and education, helping locals and visitors learn more about elephants and the importance of protecting them. It plays a key role in preserving the Asian elephant population, which faces threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and conflicts with farmers.
A BRIEF HSTORY
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka was started by the government in 1975. Its main purpose was to help baby elephants that had lost their parents, usually because of fighting with humans or losing their homes. It began with only five elephants but has since become the largest place where Asian elephants are kept. The elephants there are allowed to walk around and socialize freely. The orphanage does important work like rescuing elephants, making sure they have food and medical care, and running a successful program to breed elephants in captivity.
VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND ACTIVITIES
A visit to Pinnawala is a truly unique experience for animal lovers and families. One of the most popular attractions is watching the elephants bathe in the Maha Oya River, which happens twice daily. Dozens of elephants walk together to the river, where they splash, play, and enjoy the cool water — it’s a sight that fascinates everyone.
Visitors can also take part in feeding sessions, where they can hand-feed baby elephants with fruits or milk bottles for a small fee. The orphanage’s open spaces allow elephants to roam freely, and there are several viewing points and shaded areas where visitors can observe them closely.
Another interesting aspect is the Elephant Dung Paper Project. The facility uses elephant dung to make eco-friendly paper products — a creative and sustainable way to recycle waste while supporting the orphanage’s operations. Some nearby accommodations even offer rooms with elephant views, allowing guests to wake up to the sound of these majestic animals.
A PLACE OF CARE AND LEARNING ABOUT ELEPHANTS
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage remains one of the most visited attractions in Sri Lanka, offering a blend of compassion, education, and conservation. For travellers, it’s not just an opportunity to see elephants up close but also to learn about the challenges these animals face in the wild. Watching them play in the river or interact with one another reminds visitors of the deep emotional bond elephants share within their herds.
Visiting Pinnawala responsibly — by respecting the animals, supporting sustainable tourism, and spreading awareness — helps ensure that future generations of elephants can continue to live safely under the care of those who love and protect them
A SAFE HAVEN FOR ELEPHANTS
The orphanage provides a natural environment for elephants to thrive, offering food, medical care, and social interaction. Many elephants born at the orphanage remain there for life, as reintroducing them into the wild is often challenging. The facility includes expansive grounds where the elephants can roam freely, bathe in the nearby Maha Oya River, and form social bonds within their herds.
DAILY ACTIVITES AND BREEDING PROGRAM
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage has a very successful captive breeding program and a well-known daily routine.
BREEDING PROGRAM
The captive breeding program started in 1982, and the first elephant was born in 1984.The natural-like setting and good care at the orphanage have made the program a big success, leading to many elephant births.As of recently, there have been a total of 70 successful births at the orphanage.
Elephants born here are not typically bottle-fed, as they have their mothers. However, some orphaned calves from another facility are kept and bottle-fed at Pinnawala as a tourist attraction.
DAILY ROUTING
Bathing : The elephants' day is structured around feeding and bathing in the Maha Oya River. They are walked a short distance to the river twice a day for a two-hour bath, which is a major event for visitors. These times are usually from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and again from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The herd, especially the females and young, roam freely during the day in a large area.
Feeding : Elephants are given huge amounts of food daily, mostly green matter like jackfruit, coconut, and grass. An adult elephant eats about 250 kilograms (550 lbs) of this per day.
Visitors experience : visitors can watch activities like bottle-feeding the baby elephants (at scheduled times like 9:15 AM, 1:15 PM, and 5:00 PM) and the general feeding and bathing.
At night, the adult females are chained in stalls, and the males are kept separately and managed individually.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND WELFARE
While Pinnawala has done much good for elephant care and conservation, it is not without its critics. There are ongoing ethical discussions about how the facility balances tourism and animal welfare. Some visitors and animal rights groups argue that the orphanage functions more like a zoo than a sanctuary, citing the use of chains on elephants and the close human interaction allowed.
Supporters of Pinnawala, however, explain that the institution follows government guidelines and that chaining is sometimes necessary for safety during bathing or medical care. They emphasize that the orphanage’s main focus remains the rescue and rehabilitation of elephants, not entertainment.
Visitors are encouraged to take an evidence-based approach — to learn about the facility’s mission, ask questions, and form their own informed opinions. Ethical tourism means appreciating the work done for the elephants while also supporting improvements in welfare and management practices.
HOW TO VISIT
Pinnawala is easily accessible from Colombo and Kandy, making it a convenient day trip for travellers exploring Sri Lanka. The orphanage operates daily, with specific feeding and bathing times that visitors can plan their trips around. Entry fees contribute to the upkeep and welfare of the elephants, ensuring that this sanctuary continues its mission.
KEY FACTS ABOUT PINNAWALA ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE
Founded: 1975
Location: Pinnawala, Sri Lanka
Size: Approximately 25 acres
Managed by: Government of Sri Lanka
Significance: Houses the largest herd of captive Asian elephants in the world
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