Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (Sinhala: පින්නවල අලි අනාථාගාරය) is an orphanage, nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants located at Pinnawala (පින්නවල), Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka, around 90 km from Colombo of Sri Lanka.
The elephants are taken to the river twice a day for a bath, the first session is 10am to 12am and the second session is 2pm to 4pm.
The Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is one of three recognised subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to Sri Lanka.
Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last 60–75 years.
Most of the elephants at Pinnawala are healthy and once attaining adulthood, will be retained within the facility mostly since they have become dependent on supplied food. A few disabled elephants are given residential care.
Many shops around here are selling products made of elephant poop, unique souvenirs from Pinnawala.
