The role of tourism in wildlife conservation is well known. Armed with cameras, tourists are now shooting Sri Lanka’s elephants and bringing them back from the verge of extinction.
The elephant orphanage at Pinnawela in Sri Lanka is breeding elephants in captivity in a sprawling 25-acre coconut plantation. Before the orphanage was started in 1975, Sri Lanka’s elephant population had dwindled to near extinction due to habitat loss, and ruthless hunting. Thanks to the efforts of the Sri Lankan government and tourists the elephant population has risen from merely seven elephants in 1975 to 65 elephants today, including several bred in captivity.
The elephant orphanage at Pinnawela is situated close to the main highway that links Colombo and the hill capital of Kandy, which makes it an ideal stop over destination for thousands of tourists. It’s perhaps the only place where visitors can see at close quarters a large number of elephants wandering freely. The money tourists spend at the elephant orphanage is helping the revival of the elephant population in Sri Lanka.
It’s a sustainable tourism project that not only provides a meaningful experience to the tourists, but also promotes resource conservation.
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