THE PINNAWELA ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE

The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, established in 1975, commenced with seven orphans. This 24 acre orphanage is situated 80km northeast from Colombo. The orphanage was primarily designed to afford care and protection to the many baby elephants found in the jungle without their mothers. Today some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their grandchildren born in the same location. 24 elephants were born in the park since first elephant born in 1984. With the help of local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawela started a scientific captive breeding program for elephants. Today the Pinnawala orphanage is the biggest herd of captive elephants in the world. Today there are 69 elephants live in the orphanage.