The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was launched to provide a safe place to baby elephants, there are different accidental mishaps where baby elephants get separated from their mothers when their mother dies because of an illness, and sometimes hunters also kill elephants for their skin and teeth, and sometimes there are cases where young elephant lost in wilderness.
The purpose of organizing this orphanage is to give a home to all such elephants who faced these tragic incidents. In this orphanage there are many caretakers for elephants who look after their eating schedules and provide them with a healthy environment to live, here elephants do not have to face any abuse or threatening conditions in fact they are under the supervision of experts who notice any minute change in their behavior and health, in this way, chances of survival of these victim animals increase and they live peacefully here.
With the help of some foreign experts, there is a new induction breeding program for Asian elephants so that their offspring with the best genetic makeup live in this peaceful environment. There is an enclosed area for the free movement of these herds so that they have a space for mating and can live the way they lived in forests.
Location
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is located in a small town named Pinnawala in the district of Kegalle, situated at a distance of 90 km from Colombo. In the initial days, this elephant orphanage was situated at Wilpattu National Park but in 1975, the wildlife department of Siri Lanka shifted it to Pinnawala and it has been here since then.
Best Time To Visit
Experts are taking care of herds of animals in this orphanage and they have adjusted a proper timetable for these animals so that they can live peacefully and in a healthy environment. It is open for visitors after 8 in the morning and if you want to see these elephants reach before 10 in the morning because after that herd leaves towards the river and after 5 in the evening ticket counter is closed and the orphanage is closed for visitors.
Opening Time
You can visit this orphanage after 8 in the morning and the ticket counter is closed after 5 in the evening so if you want to visit this orphanage at a given time.
Bath Time
After 9 in the morning, there is a time of bottle feeding of baby elephants and after 10 this herd leaves towards the river for their bath time and then returns around 12 for bottle feeding.
Entrance Fee
Ticket prices for Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage are different according to age, for kids ticket prices are low and for locals, tickets are a little bit cheap. For locals, children below 12 years are charged 120LKR, and above 12 charges per ticket are 295LKR. For foreigners tickets are a bit expensive, for foreign children under 12 years tickets are 6 USD, and adults are charged 11 USD. If you are a non-SAARC foreigner then you have to pay 16 USD.
Editorial Staff at Ceylon Empire Travels are Specialist in Sri Lanka Travel.
