Question 1

Can you touch or feed the elephants at the Elephant Transit Home?

Accepted Answer

No. The ETH's rehabilitation model is built around minimising human contact with the calves. Visitors observe feedings from a designated viewing area but cannot touch, hand-feed, or ride any of the animals. This policy is central to ensuring the calves retain wild behaviour before release.

Question 2

How long does a visit to the Elephant Transit Home take?

Accepted Answer

Most visits last between 30 and 60 minutes. The feeding sessions themselves run for around 20 to 30 minutes, after which the calves are moved out of the public enclosure. Arriving slightly before a scheduled feeding time is recommended.

Question 3

How many elephants live at the Elephant Transit Home?

Accepted Answer

The number of resident calves varies depending on rescue activity and release schedules. At any given time there are typically between 10 and 30 young elephants at the facility, ranging from very young infants to near-release sub-adults. The centre has successfully rehabilitated and released well over 150 elephants since 1995.

Question 4

Is the Elephant Transit Home the same as Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage?

Accepted Answer

No, they are separate facilities with different mandates. Pinnawala is in Kegalle district and keeps elephants long-term with more visitor interaction. The ETH near Udawalawe focuses exclusively on wild release, and visitor access is more restricted as a result.

Question 5

What time does the Elephant Transit Home open?

Accepted Answer

The facility is typically open to visitors during feeding windows, which occur around 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, and 18:00. It is advisable to arrive a few minutes before your chosen feeding time. Outside these windows, the public viewing area is generally closed.

Question 6

Can I visit the Elephant Transit Home without a guide?

Accepted Answer

Yes, independent visitors are welcome. The site is straightforward to navigate, and interpretive boards provide context about each calf's background. However, combining the visit with a guided Udawalawe safari through a local DMC adds considerable value, since guides can explain animal behaviour and park ecology in depth.

Question 7

Are released elephants ever seen inside Udawalawe National Park?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a number of ETH graduates have been spotted in the park after release, and some have been recorded joining wild herds. GPS collar data collected by the Department of Wildlife Conservation has confirmed successful integration for many released individuals, including females that have gone on to calve in the wild.

Elephant Transit Home

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Udawalawe National Park Safari with Elephant Transit Home Visit