The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage was started in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife on a twenty five acre coconut property on the Maha Oya river. The orphanage was primarily designed to afford care and protection to the many baby elephants found in the jungle without their mothers. In most of these cases the mother had either died or been killed. In some instances the baby had fallen into a pit and in others the mother had fallen in and died.


Around 80 elephants have found homes at Pinnawala, including some small babies who have been born into the herd.

I had a chance to bottle feed this naughty boy.  He has some problems swallowing so although he is three years old he still gets a few (15) bottles of milk a day to help him grow.   Evidently he was quite hungry and grouchy when he arrived at the feeding bay because he immediately stole someones umbrella and stood on it...refusing to move till his milk was brought in!





Elephant on the left Sama, lost her front right leg to a land mine about 5 years ago.  Such a sweet elephant and sad story.