Orphanage - nursery for wild elephants, located in the village of Pinnawala, 13 km Northwest of Kegalle province Sabaragamuwa. Orphanage known in the world thanks to the huge population of elephants living out of the will. The shelter has 88 elephants, including 37 males and 51 females from three generations of elephants, living in Pinnawala.

The nursery was established to care for and protect infants wild elephants found in the jungles of Sri Lanka. It was created in 1975 by the Department of wildlife conservation and was originally located in the national Park Wilpattu, then it moved to the resort in Bentota and then to the Dehiwala zoo. From there he was transferred to the village Orphanage on 10 hectares of coconut plantations, adjacent to the river Maha OYA.

The main area of the nursery is located on the East side of highway B199, on the way to Rambukkana. The main complex includes several restaurants/kiosks and administrative buildings, including veterinary institutions and a stable. The bathing-place of the elephants and the platform from which this can be observed, is directly opposite, on the West side highway.

At the time of establishment of the nursery, there were five cubs, who later became his core. In 1978, the nursery was transferred to the Department of national Zoological gardens of Sri Lanka. In 1982, a programme was launched for the breeding of elephants, which continues today. The arrival of new individuals continued until 1995, when in udawalawe national Park was created a temporary home for the elephants. Since then, the cubs found the elephants were sent there, and the population in the Orphanage began to grow due to natural offspring.

Revenues from attracting local and foreign tourists help to keep the nursery. Since its founding, the nursery Orphanage has become one of the main attractions of Sri Lanka. Tourists are invited to not only watch, but also participate in feeding the elephants.