Pinnawala is home to the world's largest captive elephant herd, a pioneering rescue and breeding program that made history with Sri Lanka's first elephant twins in 80 years.

Why visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

• World's Largest Captive Elephant Herd: Pinnawala houses the largest herd of captive elephants globally. In 2023, there were 71 elephants, including 30 males and 41 females, living there.
• Focus on Orphaned and Wounded Elephants: The orphanage was established to care for and protect orphaned and injured wild elephants. These elephants are often found abandoned or hurt in Sri Lanka's forests.
• Successful Breeding Program: Pinnawala has a highly successful elephant breeding program, with 75 captive births recorded by 2023. The first birth occurred in 1984, and 17 births were recorded in 2011 alone.
• Twin Elephant Birth in 2021: On August 31, 2021, a 25-year-old elephant named Surangi gave birth to twin male baby elephants. This was the first twin elephant birth in Sri Lanka in 80 years.
• Daily Elephant River Bathing: Visitors can observe the elephants being herded twice daily to the Maha Oya River for bathing. This offers a unique and close-up view of their natural behavior.