Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage

Close to the Maya Oya River, when the hills of the Kandy merge in to the western coastal plain, stands Sri Lanka’s premier elephant care establishment, Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage, set up in 1975 and growing stronger each year. On 11 hectares of open grassland and palm groves an eclectic herd of elephants brought to the location after misfortunes which left them in need of human care. The majority of the intake, which average 5 animals per year, a young who have become separated from there mothers for some reason and been found by wildlife officials or villagers in forest areas. Some may be older animals. One resident stepped on a land mine in the war-torn north: she has a mangled rear leg but manages to limp alone. The oldest and saddest in mate is Raja, a huge tusker who was blinded by poachers and now stands alone, shunned by the rest.

Twice a day they are herded down to the river for bathing

The elephants roam their limited range under the watch of keepers. Twice a day they are herded down to the river for bathing, which is a delightful sight for tourists as well as a pleasure for the pachyderms. Five times daily the babies, up to five years old, guzzle milk from bottles held by keepers or fascinated tourists. At night, all inmates are chained in rows in open-sided sheds.

Five times daily the babies, up to five years old, guzzle milk from bottles held by keepers or fascinated tourists

A recent count gave 63 individuals, all known by name and character to the keepers. Say the director of the orphanage, SSM Seelarathna, a lively and caring man: “We have a file on each one. It has all the information we known to them, even their horoscopes.”

Forty-two staff including 15 mahouts help him in this mammoth task.