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Ways to Experience Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
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Reviewed 15 October 2019

I was dubious about this tour seeing some of the reviews. We did question why a few of the elephants were in chains which was rather distressing but we read that they are the males and were under medication as many of the elephants come from farmland where they’ve been trapped in holes dug by farmers to collect water. They often have broken limbs when they come to the sanctuary.
Once recovered, most are returned to the forests. Some pictures attached of the time we watched them bathing. The elephants are taken to the river twice a day and seem to enjoy their swim. For us, it was worth the journey. We weren’t interested in feeding them but more to watch them enjoy their swim.

Date of experience: October 2019
1  Thank garethmichael
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pinnawalaelephant, Public Relations Manager at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, responded to this reviewResponded 18 October 2019

Dear Garethmichael,

Have a fantastic day from Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage!
Thank you for coming and sharing your lovely experiences with us.

From
PEO Team.

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Reviewed 12 October 2019

I heard reviews for both good and bad and I am so mad at myself for going. Half the elephants are on very small chains not allowing them to move around at all. I witness two being forced to sit in the water with bull hooks. They are never released back into the wild. While yes, they could be in worse situations do a yourself a favor and go see them in the wild during a safari. They are wild everywhere in Sri Lanka. Don't waste your time seeing somewhere where they aren't truly happy.

Date of experience: September 2019
9  Thank thelonglegsabroad
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pinnawalaelephant, Public Relations Manager at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, responded to this reviewResponded 20 October 2019

Dear Thelonglegsabroad
A fantastic day from Pinnawala Elephant Orphange!
Thank you for sharing valuable ideas with us. Your comments are taken in to consideration constructively as we strive to keep them happy in our custody. Primary purpose of this institute is providing care and shelter to orphaned elephants that were found in the wild.
The elephants in here are in semi wild condition and specially bull elephants are very aggressive and it is hard to control them. Hence, we have to chain up them for their safety and it’s essential at veterinary and curatorial practices too. Bull hooks also use for control their aggressive behaviors and it is not harmful at all.
In addition, you have mentioned why don’t we release them back in to the wild. It is controversial matter in here because they have already adapted to this environment now, and it has created many barriers to go back in to the wild and survive in the wild. Wild elephants definitely attack in there them and there is a strong possibility to become danger in the wild.
From
PEO Team

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Reviewed 10 October 2019 via mobile

We stopped here for brunch on a trip from Nuwera Eliza to Colombo. It’s been many years since I have visited the orphanage and it didn’t disappoint. Watching the Elephants bathe was super. There are a lot of negative comments about the orphanage - mostly unfounded. Yes some of the elephants are chained ... from the little I could see the more boisterous ones ... I assume for their own safety and the safety of others. If it wasn’t for the orphanage these elephants may not have survived. They are taken in and cared for when lost or abandoned. One elephant had lost an ear during an altercation with a leopard when he was a baby - bringing him to the orphanage gave him a second chance. Please visit - your entrance fee helps the orphanage continue to care for the elephants.

Date of experience: October 2019
2  Thank JaqArmitage
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pinnawalaelephant, Public Relations Manager at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, responded to this reviewResponded 14 October 2019

Dear JaqArmitage,
A fantastic day from Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage!
We do appreciate for taking time & sharing your experience with us. Your feedback is extremely valuable to us. We greatly appreciated your right view as we strive to improve their lives better. We welcome you back in the near future for memorable experience at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
Thank you,
From: Himashi

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Reviewed 5 October 2019

As I touring Srilanka and I am not aware of this place someone told me visit here, but being an Indian elephant is nothing new for me as we have been raised around animal like elephant so nothing new but particular here is, its a orphanage and i don't know is it required to keep them here anyway all seems prefect like elephant having quality time having food taking bath in river and may be raised here till death. But unless until not required elephant like animals should be left away from humans in jungles until being rescued from poacher or hunters. Wild animal are a thing of display there are being like human and should be left with their privacy

Date of experience: August 2019
1  Thank rahulkhare2088
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pinnawalaelephant, Public Relations Manager at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, responded to this reviewResponded 22 October 2019

Dear Rahulkhare

We do appreciate visiting us, taking time and sharing your experiences with us. It is a pleasure to hear about your unplanned visit. This is a fully government institute under the Department of National Zoological Garden in Sri Lanka. The primary purpose of this institute is providing care and shelter for orphaned elephants that were stranded in the wild.
Thank you for the compliment of having a positive response on our elephants as you said indeed we are keeping them under close supervision to make their stay happy even in captivity.
Most of the animals housed here were orphaned in the wild sometime back and brought here to raise as their mothers were not available to do so. Until they die we look after them with utmost care. Your encouraging words are drive us to work more smart and hard for the continuous existence of this magnificent animals.

From
PEO Team

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Reviewed 5 October 2019 via mobile

I was soo dissapointed, I was crying...they don't treat them good! It is not an orphanage! They force them to stay in the river, if they want to go out they beat them with the stick, and they are crying...turist trap

Date of experience: February 2019
10  Thank trixy2508
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pinnawalaelephant, Public Relations Manager at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, responded to this reviewResponded 4 November 2019

Dear trixy2508
A fantastic day from Pinnawala Elephant Orphange!
We thank you for your feedback and taking time to write us. We are disappointed to read your experience and it is important to write you since we strive to deliver high standards of welfare for orphaned elephants in the facility. Actually, this was initiated to provide care and shelter to orphaned elephants that were stranded in the wild. The orphanage has completed 44 years in service for conservation of elephants.
In addition to it, as a dedicated institute for the elephant welfare, we have design a daily routine for the elephants at PEO to enhance their mental & physical health. Accordingly elephants are in our custody are taken to the river twice a day for their daily bath since they are fond of having water and mud bath at the river.It full fills their daily water requirements and it mainly support to reduce the body temperature as well as it comforts their natural preference for water & their behavior too.
When bathing most of the male elephants are very active and boisterous. It is necessary to keep them in limited mobility as they stab others when the free. Therefore, they are tied with one leg to confined to the place.The ankus is used to guide the animal without provoking him. It is a modification tool where work on animal’s sensitive points if necessary.

From
PEO Team

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