ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE

Elephant orphanage Pinnawala elephant orphanage was established to feed, nurse and house, young and baby elephant found abandoned by their mothers. Located in 13 km north-east of Kegalle town. Pinnawala is notable for having the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. It is established in 1975 by the department of wildlife conservation. The orphanage was first located at the Wilpattu national park, then shifted to the tourist complex at Bentota and then to the Dehiwala zoo. From the zoo it was shifted to Pinnawala village on a 25 acers. The orphanage had five baby elephants which formed its nucleus. In 1982 elephant breeding program was launched. As of 2012, there were 78 elephants living here. Now it’s nearly 95 elephants. There are 48 mahouts (handlers) who take care of the elephants.