Highest turnout for Pinnawela Orphanage

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala whas recorded the highest number of elephant births in 2011, according to the statistics of the Department of National Zoological Gardens. During the year, 15 elephant calves were born and nine of them were males.

Last year 2,438,541 foreigners visited the Orphanage. A total of 4,612,631 local and foreign tourists have visited the National Zoological Gardens, Dehiwala and the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.

The Department itself has recorded a highest ever income in its history. Accordingly the Department earned a total of Rs. 651 million in 2011 out of which the Pinnawala Orphanage had earned Rs. 487 million.

Many development projects were initiated in the Dehiwala zoo and at Pinnawala, in order to upgrade visitor facilities. Some of them have already been completed.

The construction work on the nursery of the Dehiwala zoo, where sick animal cubs will be treated, is to be completed by mid this year.

The Government has allocated Rs.914 million for the 2012 development program of the National Zoological Gardens Department. In addition to this, a six storied building for the reptile section, a water sump, a retaining wall for the swan pond, quarters for staff officers, extension to the main entrance, free roaming elephant enclosure, internal road network and six modern toilet complexes are also under construction.