Elephant Orphanage Pinnawala, Sri Lanka, is located close to Kegalle town, halfway between Colombo & Kandy.
Elephant Orphanage Pinnawala is the only elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka, which was established in 1975. It started with 5 orphaned elephants, and the current population is 93 of both sexes/all age groups. The prime purpose of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is to provide refuge for the elephants that are injured/orphaned & abandoned in the wild. This orphanage has been operating as a breeding ground too since 1980. Most of the new arrivals are babies, and after a few days of quarantine, they are released into the herd, who welcome them happily. The orphanage covers an area of 23 acres of land in the middle of the county & is managed by the Department of National Zoological Gardens. This is the largest captive herd of elephants in the world belonging to the Elephas maximus maximus.
Sri Lankan Elephant – Scientific name – Elephas maximus maximus; a subspecies of Asian elephant. The largest mammal on earth & identified as endangered by the IUCN Red List. Two species in the world—African & Asian; consumes 250 kg of food, 120 Ltr water per day; gestation period 22 months; memory is extraordinarily long; Average birth weight: 105 KG; height: 10 to 13 ft. Weight 3500 – 12000 KG; Life span 60–75 years; only 7% of Sri Lankan males bear tusks, whereas in Africa 60% do; in Africa both male & females bear tusks; Tusk Growing 18 CM per year & maturity 3 meters long / 90 KG weight; The trunk can suck 14 Ltr of water at a time; Elephant communicates “subsonically” at a maximum 10 km; skin is 2.5 cm. Thick; the elephant population in Sri Lanka is 5897 as per the 2011 elephant census. Elephants hold a central position in the country’s two main religions, Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as in Sri Lankan culture.
FAQ Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (Frequently Asked Questions)
Pinnawala elephant orphanage to Kandy
1.5-hour journey on car / public buses available. Take the Kegalle-Rambukka bus from the orphanage and come to the Karandupona junction (Kandy-Colombo road) and take a bus towards Kandy. Both air-conditioned & regular buses are available. Route numbers are 01 / 08 / 38. Buses are readily available from 6 AM to 9 PM
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage details/general info
B199, Rambukkana, Sri Lanka
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage schedule/timetable
Open 8.00 AM till 5.00 PM. 365 days open for public
Pinnawala elephant orphanage bathing times / milk bottle feeding times
Bottle feeding morning
daily at 9.15 AM & 3.15 PM and bathing time 10.00 – 11.00 AM
Afternoon daily at 3.15 PM and bathing time 4.00 PM
(Bottle feeding only for caves which are under medical advices)
How many Elephants are there in Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage?
93 as of 2019 July
Colombo to Pinnawala elephant orphanage bus / how to go to pinnawala elephant orphanage from colombo
Take Kandy – bus from Colombo central bus terminal and get town from Karandupona junction (Just after the town of Kegalle) and take a bus to Rambukkana route number 681 and get down from Pinnawala
Kandy to pinnawala elephant orphanage bus / How to reach from Kandy
Take Colombo bus from Kandy central bus terminal to Colombo and get town from Karandupona junction and take a bus to Rambukkana route number 681 and get down from Pinnawala
Colombo to Pinnawala elephant orphanage by train
Take train from Kandy towards Colombo (Ensure whether the train stop and Rambukkana railway station) and get down from Rambukkana (Approximately 1.5 Hrs journey on slow train) and get a bus to Kegalle (Slow bus) from Rambukkana bus station and get down from Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
How far is pinnawala elephant orphanage from Colombo?
Approximately 3 hrs journey (One way) and you may do an excursion within a day if you leave 6.30 AM from Colombo to witness 9.15 AM bottle feeding
Pinnawala elephant orphanage entry fee/ticket prices
Pinnawala Entrance fees SAARC Countries adults 800 Sri Lankan Rupees
Pinnawala Entrance fees SAARC Countries Children (3 – 12 Years) 400 Sri Lankan Rupees
Pinnawala Entrance fees SAARC Countries Kids (0 – 3 Years) FREE
Pinnawala Entrance fees other nationalities adults except SAARC – 3,000 Sri Lankan Rupees
Pinnawala Entrance fees other nationalities Children (3 – 12 Years) except SAARC – 1,500 Sri Lankan Rupees
Pinnawala Entrance fees other nationalities Kids (0 – 3 ) – FREE
Pinnawala elephant orphanage contact number
+94352265284 (From Sri Lanka 035 2265284)
+94352266116 (From Sri Lanka 035 2266116)
Pinnawala elephant orphanage to Colombo airport distance
Approximately 80 KM / 2.5 Hrs journey) This time may vary with traffic conditions.
How to be a volunteer at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage?
You need to apply through DWC – Department of Wildlife
Is the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage open on Poya days / Public holidays
Yes