International Elephant Day, which falls on August 12th every year, is a day when the attention of all the people of the world is drawn to the importance of elephants and the conservation of elephants. We have been entrusted with a huge task to protect the precious lives of elephants and with those objectives in mind, various programs are being implemented around the world on this special day. Accordingly, a series of programs was held at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage this morning (12).
This series of programs was launched with the participation and financial contribution of a group of about sixty students including the President of the Humane Students' Association of the University of Kelaniya, Mr. Harshana Ratnayake.
Accordingly, a delicious milk rice made from various grains was prepared for the elephants and the elephants were also treated with fruits. It was also a special event that foreign tourists who came to see the elephants were also given the opportunity to present the same treat on behalf of the elephants.
The student group that was present then cleaned the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and these students also participated in bathing the elephants.
Currently, the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, which currently provides shelter to 66 elephants, has become a popular tourist destination among local and foreign tourists, making a significant contribution to the national and regional economy.
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage also sustainably conserves Sri Lankan elephants as a protected population in order to protect the survival of the species and ensure that genetic diversity is not affected if the elephants living in Sri Lanka's natural habitats face the problem of extinction in the future.
The Deputy Director of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Mr. Mihiran Medawala, Animal Care Officer, Mr. Sanjaya Ratnayake, and a group of local and foreign conservationists participated in this event.
