Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka
Project Summary
Many young elephants that are lost or abandoned by their mothers are housed by the elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka where the elephants are fed, nursed and taken care of. Like human children, these elephants also need love, care and attention. The elephant orphanage centers however lack resources to raise the elephants properly and need more volunteers to join them in providing good care for the growing elephants. This project is a rare opportunity for volunteers who are interested in working with elephants. The giant but innocent animals' sanctuaries are located near lush green forests and idyllic sceneries.
This particular sanctuary was established in 1999 and since then has taken care of over 60 elephants, sick and injured. The sanctuary is spread over 15 acres of land.
- Program: Volunteer in Sri Lanka
- Project: Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka
- Start dates: 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month
- Location: Kegalle Sri Lanka
- Departure and End Point: Colombo International Airport
- Language Need: none
- Accommodation and meals: Host Family and Sri Lankan meals three times daily
- Activities: interacting directly with elephant orphans and supporting their day-to-day life
- Working hours: 25-35 hours per week
Role of Volunteer
As a elephant orphanage Sri Lanka volunteer, you will work as assistants to the "mahouts" (elephant handlers), getting involved in the following tasks:
- Bathing the elephants in the river
- Cleaning out and maintaining their enclosures in the morning
- Washing and feeding the baby elephants
- Other assistance in construction or maintenance work (as needed)
- Some work, such as the mental stimulation of the elephants, is usually left to the initiative of the volunteers with some guidance from the "mahouts"
Skills/Qualification Needed
No specific qualifications work as elephant orphanage Sri Lanka volunteer besides a love for animals and a kind disposition Note: Your understanding of Sri Lankan culture and language will enhance your experience and improve your interactions with the local staff and Mahouts. Consider enrolling in our one-week Language & Cultural Immersion program.
A typical day of a Volunteer in Elephant Orphanage Project:
Morning: Bathe the elephants in the river and feed the baby elephants.
Clean out and maintain elephant enclosures.
Day: Help in the construction and maintenance work of the elephant sanctuary.
Evening: Feed the baby elephants and bathe them in the river
Remarks: This daily itinerary gives the generic picture of daily activities. There can be some changes depending on the local situation.
Volunteer in Sri Lanka: Project Locations and Free Time Options
The elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka is located in Kegalle, a beautiful small town about 50 miles (85km) from Colombo. Kegalle has shops and restaurants, but in the evenings, it's a very quiet little town. Kandy, the second largest city in Sri Lanka, is quite close by, so on the weekends you can find all kinds of things to do! Kandy is the home of The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most venerable places for the Buddhist community of Sri Lanka and all around the world. Most of the film “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” was filmed in and around Kandy.
