Work in elephant orphanage (Pinnawela, Kegalla)

Project Summary

Established as a sanctuary in 1975 by the Sri Lankan government, the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage rests on 25 acres of lush forest - feeding, nursing, and housing young elephants who have been lost or abandoned by their mothers. With a newly-added breeding program, volunteers can experience and interact with the baby elephants: bottle-feeding them and walking alongside these curious, wondrous creatures before lazily lumbering down to the river for their daily, splash-filled bathes. Like human children, these nearly-helpless elephants also need love, care and attention. The elephant orphanage centers are lacking in crucial resources and desperately need more able-bodied volunteers to assist them in providing optimal care for these growing, gentle elephants. This project is a rare and amazing opportunity for volunteers interested in working with animals and/or elephants.

Role of a Volunteer

Volunteers working in elephant orphanage mostly work as assistant to the "mahouts" (elephant handlers). Volunteers bathe the elephants in the river twice a day, clean out and maintain their enclosures in the morning, wash and feed the baby elephants, and help in construction or maintenance work (as needed). Most of the time, some work, such as the mental stimulation of the elephants, is usually left to the initiative of the volunteers with some guidance from the "mahouts."

Skills/Qualifications Requirements

Volunteers do not require any specific qualifications to volunteer in elephant orphanage project. But volunteers should have a deep love for animals.

Room/Food/Supervision

IFRE arranges room, food, and supervision for volunteer from the start to the end of program. During first, week of language and cultural program, volunteers stay in host family in Galle , Sri Lanka (Most likely in the home of our coordinator). IFRE has an office (small) in Galle , a beautiful sea beach and tourist areas 4 hours west of Colombo . IFRE manages local food 3 times a day.

During volunteering (for teaching Buddhist monk), you will mostly stay with host family. Your host family will offer you a separate room. But you will share room, shower, and toilet facilities with host family

With little additional fee, we will also offer the options of staying in sea side motel. Please contact us if you wish to stay in sea side hotel. Volunteers will also have 24/7 access to our office (mobile number of coordinators) in Sri Lanka . Elephant orphanage is far from our office in Galle so our coordinator stay in touch by telephone or email.