Pinnawala Open Zoo

Pinnawala Open Zoo and its collection

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, opened in 1975, is a zoo in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The orphanage claims the largest captive elephant herd in the world. In 2023 it held 71 elephants across three generations, 30 males and 41 females.

History

The orphanage was set up in 1975 by the country's wildlife conservation department to feed and shelter orphaned calves found in the wild. It was first based at Wilpattu National Park, then at a tourist complex at Bentota, and then at Dehiwala Zoo.

Animals and collection

Grown elephants generally stay on because they depend on being fed, and a few disabled animals receive permanent residential care. Among them were the blind tusker Raja, who died in 2013, and a female called Sama, who lost her front right leg to a landmine.

Conservation and approach

A captive breeding programme is run for some of the elephants; the first calf, a female named Sukumalee, was born in 1984 to Vijaya and Kumari. By 2023 there had been 75 captive births.

What the venue says

• Walk with an Elephant
• Riverfront Cafes and Restaurants: Several hotels and restaurants line the edge of the Maha Oya River (such as the Elephant Bay Hotel restaurant).
• Ample pay-and-park lots managed by local authorities and private vendors are available directly outside the main ticket gate and along the road leading down to the river.
• General Terrain: The main orphanage grounds are generally flat and passable, though some dirt tracks can become uneven or muddy during rainy seasons.
• While manual wheelchairs can reach the overlooks, navigating all the way to the water's edge can be challenging.
• Designated wheelchair-accessible parking spaces and accessible entrance gates are available at the main park compound.