Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home

The Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, often referred to as the Udawalawe Elephant Orphanage, is a renowned wildlife rehabilitation center located within the Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka. Established in 1995 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation, its primary objective is to care for and rehabilitate orphaned elephant calves until they are capable of surviving independently in the wild.

Key Features:

• Location: Situated on the western border of Udawalawe National Park, adjacent to the Udawalawe Reservoir12.

• Purpose: To rehabilitate and release orphaned elephants back into their natural habitat, typically at the age of five13.

• Care Approach: Emphasizes minimal human contact to ensure the elephants can adapt well to the wild upon release5.

• Facilities: Offers a viewing platform for visitors to observe feeding sessions, which occur every three hours3.

• Ticket Information: Entrance tickets are available for both locals and foreigners, with prices updated as of June 20231.

Activities and Visits:

• Feeding Times: Public viewing of feeding is available daily at specific times, such as 9:00 AM, noon, 3:00 PM, and 6:00 PM3.

• Accessibility: The facility is wheelchair accessible, offering both entrance and parking accommodations.

Conservation Efforts:

• Supported by organizations like the Born Free Foundation, the center plays a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s wildlife conservation efforts34.

• Over 200 elephants have been cared for and released into the wild since its inception1.