National Parks

Yala National Park

Situated 309 km. south of Colombo, Yala is approximately 1,259 sq.km. in extent and is located in the southeastern corner of the island. Its northern boundaries border on the Lahugala Elephant Sanctuary and it has the added bonus of a scenic ocean frontage. The terrain is varied flat plains alternating with rocky outcrops. The vegetation ranges from open parkland to dense jungle. Water holes, small lakes, lagoons and streams provide water for the animals and birds. The specialty here is the large numbers of elephants.

Yala National Park

Yala National Park

Pinnawela

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is an orphanage and breeding ground for wild elephants which is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, Sri Lanka and is around 90 km from the capital, Colombo. It was established in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife Conservation on a 25-acre coconut plantation on the Maha Oya River. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungle. As of 2008, there were 84 elephants. The elephants are taken to the river twice daily for a bath, and all the babies under three years of age are still bottle fed by the mahouts and volunteers. Each animal is also given around 76 kilograms of green manure a day and around 2 kg from a food bag containing rice bran and maize. They get access to water twice a day, from the river. The orphanage is very popular among local and foreign tourists. The main attraction is the opportunity to observe the bathing elephant from the broad river bank as the herd interacts socially, bathing and playing. The orphanage is open to the public daily, and all admission fees are used to look after the elephants. Visitors to the park can view many different aspects of the care and daily routine of the elephants, such as bottle feeding of elephant calves, feeding of all other elephants, and bathing.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - Kagalle

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National Parks