News
Pinnawala opens musth enclosure to mark anniversary
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
The 51st anniversary of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage of the Department of National Zoological Gardens was marked on Monday with the launch of the musth elephant enclosure.
National Zoological Gardens Director General Dr Chanadana Rajapaksa said the orphanage, which was established on February 16, 1975, initially housed five orphaned calves, named Kumari, Neela, Kadira, Vijaya and Mathalee.
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- Pinnawala launched a musth elephant enclosure
It was set up under the Department of Wildlife Conservation and, in 1982, came under the Department of National Zoological Gardens.
Dr Rajapaksa said the orphanage has contributed to successful captive breeding of elephants. According to him, 76 elephant births had been recorded in the orphanage. “The orphanage even had a successful twin birth of elephants in 2021.’’
The orphanage cares for 27 male and 38 female elephants and is working towards holding elephants without chains.
According to the policy, a special enclosure was built for elephants in musth to be held unchained.
“During musth, male elephants become violent as their hormones surge. When this happens, captive elephants are held tethered, as they could harm themselves and others, yet according to welfare standards, it is considered better to keep the animals free of chains, allowing them to be free in an enclosed area,” he said.
An elephant named Mangala was introduced into the newly built pen, symbolically, even though it was not in musth.
A separate free-roaming elephant enclosure is also planned.
The 51st anniversary event was held in the presence of Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi. Ministry Secretary Rohitha Uduwawala and officials of the Department of National Zoological Gardens joined in.
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