An orphanage that isn't an orphanage - The facade of the elephant paradise
It sounds like a dream come true for animal lovers: an orphanage for elephants where orphaned or injured elephants can be cared for. Animals Protection, care and a species-appropriate life. This is exactly what the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka. Founded in 1975, the facility presents itself as a rescue center for elephants that would have no chance of survival in the wild. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world make the pilgrimage to Pinnawala to experience elephants up close, feed them and watch them bathe in the sun.
But behind this idyllic backdrop lies another reality - a reality of greed, abuse and unscrupulous profiteering with living creatures. Numerous reports and research suggest that Pinnawala is not the sanctuary it claims to be. Rather, it resembles a zoo where elephants are made docile for mass tourism. Instead of being rescued, many animals live there in chains, under constant control by mahouts who do not hesitate to use force if an elephant does not "obey".
One former visitor describes his impressions as follows: "I expected to see a place of care. But what I saw was a tourist attraction with chained elephants that had to work at the push of a button. It felt like a circus, not a sanctuary."
Worst of all, even the elephants that are born here in captivity do not escape their fate. Some are sold to temples, others disappear into the private collections of wealthy businessmen. But the management of Pinnawala consistently remains silent about all these accusations.
In this report, we uncover what really goes on behind the scenes at Pinnawala - and why the supposed orphanage is actually a lifelong captivity for elephants.
Naturally, we have asked the management of the Pinnawala Orphanage to comment on the allegations and to send them our questions - more on this at the end.
The truth about the "rescued" elephants
Officially, Pinnawala claims to look after orphaned and injured elephants. But a closer look at the origin of the animals raises questions.
The majority of the elephants in Pinnawala were not rescued from emergency situations, but were born in captivity. These calves never experience the freedom of the wild, but grow up in an environment that prepares them for a life as a tourist attraction. Instead of being raised naturally by their mothers, they are accustomed to contact with humans at an early age. They learn to be touched by strangers, to accept food in exchange for money and to pose for photos.
The practice of forcibly "training" young elephants to remain obedient is particularly disturbing. Critical observers report that the traditional use of sticks with hooks - so-called Ankus - to punish "unruly" elephants is commonplace. This goes against all modern standards of animal welfare, but it is tolerated in the name of business.
"If an elephant disobeys, it is beaten. If it resists, it is tied up. That's not rescue - that's training."
- Statement from an anonymous insider
One of the most disturbing revelations concerns the alleged "transfer" of elephants to temples or other institutions. Officially, Pinnawala claims that these elephants continue to lead a protected life. However, animal welfare organizations have documented that many of these animals are later kept in disastrous conditions in temples, where they are abused for religious processions. There they often spend their lives in solitary confinement, in chains, without access to water or shade.
Pinnawala claims to be saving elephants - but in reality it is producing a new generation of prisoners.
Tourist attraction instead of protected area? - The brutal business with elephants
Anyone visiting the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage might think at first glance that they are in a place of protection and care for injured and orphaned elephants. In fact, the orphanage is presented in the official brochures as a rescue station - but if you take a closer look, you quickly realize that it is more of a well-disguised tourist attraction where elephants are not living beings worthy of protection, but profitable showpieces.
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Mass tourism instead of animal welfare
Every day, hundreds of tourists flock to the site, attracted by pictures of elephants bathing in the river. What looks like an idyllic setting is actually a choreographed show designed to maximize visitor numbers. The management goes to great lengths to maintain this impression - but critics speak of a highly lucrative staging at the expense of the animals.
A central component of the business model is the so-called "elephant bathing" in the nearby Maha Oya River. But contrary to what many believe, the animals do not enjoy any free time here. They are driven into the water in groups by mahouts (elephant handlers), put in chains or directed with sticks. The animals have no choice - they have to submit to the spectacle so that the tourists can take their perfect souvenir photos.
The dark side of the mahouts
The mahouts' treatment of the elephants is particularly alarming. Reports and video recordings document the use of so-called "ankus", the infamous elephant hooks. Officially, the orphanage denies that the animals are mistreated. But if you look closely, you can see scars on the skin of many elephants - an unmistakable sign of mistreatment.
Mahouts are not simply animal keepers - they control the animals with fear. An elephant that resists or disobeys is subdued using harsh methods. Images showing elephants being beaten with sticks or kept on short chains are constantly circulating on social media. The management of Pinnawala remains silent about these accusations - or plays them down.
Tourists as accomplices?
Many visitors have no idea that their entrance fee does not go towards protecting the elephants, but instead finances a system that exploits the animals. Pinnawala not only earns money from the entrance fees, but also from expensive photo packages and paid "feeding experiences".
Critics have been calling for a drastic reduction in tourist numbers and a reform of the attitude for years. But those responsible have no incentive to change anything - as long as business flourishes, the status quo will remain.
Breeding station instead of orphanage - Where do the elephants really come from?
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was originally founded to take in orphaned and injured elephants. But anyone who looks at the actual numbers and the origin stories of the animals quickly becomes suspicious: instead of exclusively giving orphans a second chance, Pinnawala has long since become a breeding station that artificially increases the population - and thus raises new questions.
Born for captivity
According to official figures, there are currently over 80 elephants living in Pinnawala. But an alarming fact is often concealed in tourism advertising: a large proportion of these animals were not rescued from the wild, but bred directly in the facility or under state supervision.
This contradicts the original aim of an orphanage, which was actually intended to take in injured and parentless elephants. But instead of concentrating on rehabilitation, Pinnawala focuses on controlled reproduction - not least because young elephants are a crowd puller and can be marketed perfectly.
The numbers speak for themselves: more than 40 elephants have been born in Pinnawala in recent decades. These animals have never known freedom, have been habituated to humans from an early age and are thus trapped in an eternal cycle of captivity. They are not orphans - they are the product of a business model.
Breeding instead of reintroduction
Animal welfare organizations criticize the fact that no serious efforts are being made in Pinnawala to release elephants back into the wild. While other countries have programs to gradually accustom animals to life in the wild, Pinnawala remains stubborn: not a single elephant from the orphanage has ever been successfully released into the wild.
Why? The answer is simple: the elephants are too valuable to be released into the wild. Instead of giving them the opportunity to lead a species-appropriate life in national parks, they are kept in the facility for the rest of their lives - where they pose for photos, are "allowed" to bathe and entertain paying tourists.
Where do the elephants disappear to?
Another dark spot in the History of Pinnawala are the mysterious transfers of elephants to temples and private institutions. Time and again, reports emerge of animals being handed over to religious institutions, where they are misused as sacred symbols and used for processions.
Official documents on the sale of elephants are difficult to access. But experts suspect that Pinnawala acts as a kind of supply source for temples and private elephant keepers. Who really controls what happens to the animals that suddenly disappear? And why are these transfers so poorly documented?
Those responsible for the orphanage remain silent.
Animal suffering for tourist attractions - everyday life behind the scenes
What happens every day at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage has little to do with species-appropriate husbandry. Behind the scenes lies a disturbing reality that is deliberately hidden from tourists.
Chained and delivered - The price of a tourist photo
Hundreds of visitors flock to Pinnawala every day to take photos with seemingly happy elephants. But the truth is different:
The majority of animals spend many hours a day in chains - some even almost around the clock. Justified in public as a safety measure, chaining actually turns out to be a method of keeping the animals docile.
Witnesses and former visitors have documented cases in which elephants remain closely chained even at night and in moments when there is no immediate danger. This is a clear violation of international animal welfare standards, as demanded by organizations such as Elephant Voices or Born Free Foundation.
A former visitor gives us an exclusive report:
"The elephants were chained up for hours, motionless and visibly stressed. When I spoke to the staff about this, I only got evasive answers."
Violence instead of care - the role of mahouts
Mahouts, the elephant keepers, are traditionally regarded as experienced animal caretakers. In Pinnawala, however, the reality is different. Time and again, footage and testimonies emerge showing mahouts beating elephants with the ankus (elephant hook) and brutally displaying the animals. One mahout, who wishes to remain anonymous, even reports systematic violence:
"If an elephant doesn't react immediately, it gets hit with a hook. This happens every day - often hidden from the tourists. The animals learn to be afraid of the mahouts."
Videos and reports by independent observers who have captured the sad reality behind the scenes also show that this violence is not an exception, but apparently commonplace.
No retreat - the daily stress for elephants
Elephants are highly intelligent, social animals that need quiet retreats to relieve stress. However, these retreats hardly exist in Pinnawala, if at all. Streams of visitors, noise and constant public traffic lead to serious psychological problems for the sensitive animals, which is reflected in conspicuous behavior: stereotypical movements, self-harm, aggression towards conspecifics and keepers.
Experts from the Sri Lanka Environment Trust stated in a study back in 2012 that the conditions in Pinnawala are hardly appropriate for the species and cause considerable damage to the animals in the long term. Nevertheless, little or nothing has changed to date.
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage systematically commits cruelty to animals under the guise of tourism. Instead of offering the elephants protection, profit takes precedence over animal welfare. And the management remains silent.
The silence of those responsible - Why Pinnawala refuses to accept criticism
A key characteristic of any trustworthy organization is openness - especially if it claims to act in the interests of animal welfare. The management of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, however, seems to systematically avoid transparency. Our own experiences underline this problematic attitude:
Initially, those responsible were apparently open to a discussion. We contacted the management with a neutrally worded but precise interview request to give both sides the opportunity to address accusations and concerns. Initially, staff at the facility indicated a willingness to answer our questions. However, after we had sent a comprehensive, detailed list of questions that critically examined the origin of the elephants, breeding practices, husbandry methods and ethical and financial aspects, among other things, there was suddenly complete radio silence.
Our questions - and the incriminating silence
The questions we asked the management focused on key points of criticism:
- Where do elephants really come from?
- Why are there no documented reintroduction programs?
- Are elephants sold or loaned to temples and private institutions?
- How does the management justify chaining elephants for many hours a day?
- Why are elephants still treated with bullhooks?
But instead of open communication, there was suddenly absolute silence. Our repeated attempts to get answers were ignored, phone calls were no longer answered and e-mails were no longer replied to. Apparently, our critical questions were perceived by the management as a threat that they would rather sit out than seriously address.
What exactly did we want to know? - The questions Pinnawala doesn't want to answer
Below are some of the key questions to which Pinnawala deliberately did not provide answers:
- Why are baby elephants being deliberately bred when the mission should actually be to save orphaned animals?
- Are there independent checks on compliance with international animal welfare standards?
- How does Pinnawala justify the continued use of elephants as a tourist attraction despite international criticism?
- How often and why are elephants forcibly treated with elephant hooks?
- Why are elephants in Pinnawala not being gradually released into the wild, although other organizations are doing this successfully?
- How does the enormous income from the tourism business flow back into animal welfare - is there any evidence of this?
These questions were intended to give Pinnawala the chance to openly justify himself or address problems openly. But the management opted for silence instead - a silence that says more than any official statement could.
Silence as an admission
The fact that the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage ignores our repeated inquiries is more than just unprofessional - it is an indirect admission that the allegations are justified. Transparency looks different. If you have nothing to hide, you don't have to avoid critical questions.
For tourists interested in elephant conservation, Pinnawala's behavior should be a clear signal: Those who visit Pinnawala may be financing animal suffering and contributing to the continued suffering of elephants. As long as Pinnawala does not fundamentally change its practices and openly face up to the pressing questions, the accusation will remain: The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is not a real orphanage, but part of a system that commercializes animal suffering.
The responsibility lies with each individual - An appeal to travelers and the public
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage may present itself as a sanctuary on the outside, but a closer look reveals a different, dark truth. As long as visitors unwittingly or deliberately turn a blind eye and buy tickets, take photos and support the staging, they are funding a system that commercializes elephant suffering.
We tried to give the management of Pinnawala the opportunity to comment in order to make our research balanced and fair. Initially, we received assurances that our questions would be answered comprehensively. However, after we asked specific, critical questions, contact was abruptly broken off - to this day, the management remains stubbornly silent.
Our appeal
Elephant conservation starts with not supporting facilities that exploit animals or keep them in conditions that are contrary to the natural behavior of these sensitive, intelligent animals. If you are a tourist travelling to Sri Lanka and want to experience elephants, be sure to choose facilities that are recommended by internationally recognized animal welfare organizations, facilities that operate transparently, do not allow questionable interactions and do genuine rescue work.
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is currently not one of them.
How elephant tourism can be ethically responsible
Elephants have fascinated people for centuries. But ethical responsibility dictates that we do not indulge our admiration at the expense of animal welfare. As a tourist, you have the power to bring about positive change - or support existing abuses. It is crucial to look carefully before supporting an institution like Pinnawala.
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How to ensure that your visit does not support cruelty to animals:
- Avoid direct contact
Be sure to avoid activities such as Elephant ridingshows, bathing with elephants or feeding sessions where direct contact is made possible. These interactions are almost always associated with stress, fear or even violence - and are never species-appropriate. - Opt for ethical alternatives
Choose facilities or national parks where you can observe elephants from a safe distance while they behave naturally. For example, you can go to the Udawalawe National Park, in the Minneriya National Park or in the Kaudulla National Park experience wild elephants without endangering their freedom. - Inform yourself thoroughly in advance
Before your trip, research exactly which organizations adhere to ethical standards and which do not. Helpful sources are international animal welfare organizations such as:
- Born Free Foundation (bornfree.org.uk)
- Elephant Voices (elephantvoices.org)
- Save Elephant Foundation (saveelephant.org)
- Support sustainable tourism
Your money decides which practices continue and which do not. By consciously choosing responsible offers, you are actively helping to stop cruelty to animals and promote sustainable projects. - Share your experiences with others
Tell friends, family and other travelers about your observations and educate them about which attractions are ethically safe and which should be avoided at all costs. Awareness creates change.
Your decision makes the difference !
In the end, your behavior determines whether you are part of the problem or part of the solution. Pinnawala may still be successful as a tourist attraction today - but the power to change this lies with each individual traveler, including you.
Take a stand against the exploitation of elephants. Because only when no one pays anymore will the suffering end.
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