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The well-known Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka was created with the intention of providing care and protection for orphaned baby elephants that had lost the care of their mothers. Today the institution also functions as a breeding ground for its captive elephants and has become a popular visitor attraction. Occasionally female elephants will abandon their calves, leaving these young ones helpless. Baby pachyderms also sometimes fall into ravines and pits as they travel far and wide searching for water in times of drought. Others are displaced out of their natural environment due to development initiatives while some babies are found wounded or diseased, often before they have been weaned. It was with the intention of looking after such young elephants that the orphanage was founded. Presently a herd of male, female and baby elephants may be seen at the location, numbering close to 80 in total. This herd is therefore the most numerous herd of tamed elephants on the globe. The adult females and the juvenile elephants are allowed to roam freely as a herd in the daytime hours within a pasture of several acres. Twice each day the group is guided to the nearby river so that the pachyderms can drink and bathe in the water. Visitors may observe the huge beasts lounging and playing in the river waters. The adult males are looked after on an individual basis, as they require special attention. In the night time the females too are tethered individually in stalls. Watching the elephants feeding is a special attraction at the orphanage. Adults consume vast amounts of vegetation each day which is brought in from outside. Some of the baby elephants are bottle fed presenting an endearing sight. Due to the natural environment at Pinnawala its breeding programme has been a success, with a sizable number of calves conceived at the establishment. Anyone with an interest in these gentle giants will be enthralled with a visit to this captivating sanctuary. Well-informed travellers seeking a Sri Lanka spa resort will find an excellent choice in the Jetwing Lagoon. This attractive Negombo resort offers fine accommodations and an appealing ambience. It makes a great base from which to make day trips and excursions to such sites as Pinnawala. Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
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