Udawalawa Trip Overview
I feel that Udawalawe is a paradise for wild elephants. I invite you to come and share this experience with us.
Additional Info
Duration: 4 hours
Starts: Udawalawa, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Outdoor Activities >> 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours
Explore Udawalawa Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Udawalawa, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka
I feel that Udawalawe is a paradise for wild elephants. I invite you to come and share this experience with us.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Udawalawe National Park Sri Lanka
Udawalawe (also known as Udawalawa) is a small town located in the southern part of the Ratnapura District in Sri Lanka. It is situated in close to the district’s boundary with the Hambantota District and Monaragala District.
Udawalawe
Town
CountrySri LankaProvinceSabaragamuwa ProvinceDistrictRatnapura DistrictTime zoneUTC + 5: 30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time)
The town is the main entry point into the Udawalawe National Park which is a major National Park in Sri Lanka which is renowned for its high population of wild Asian elephants. The Udawalawe National Park located approximately 160 km (99 mi) away from Colombo, is the closest national park to Colombo.
The town is also notable, because of the Uda Walawa Reservoir, which was created in 1969, following the construction of a 3.9 km (2.4 mi) dam and a 6MW hydro-electric plant on the Walawe river. The reservoir is the 3rd largest reservoir in Sri Lanka.
Pass By: Udawalawa Elephant Orphanage, No. 646 C.P.D De Silva Rd, Thanamalvila Rd, Udawalawa, Udawalawa 70190 Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan elephants (Elephas maximus maximus) are an endangered species and their survival in their natural habitats is threatened due to human activities. Elephants in the wild are constantly being killed, and many elephant calves become orphaned. In order to support these orphaned elephants, the Department of Wildlife Conservation set up the Elephant Transit Home within Udawalawe National Park with help from the Born Free Foundation. [2] The facility was established under the 29th Amendment to the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance Part II. [3]
As of 8 February 2009, 39 orphaned elephant calves were being looked after. [4] The elephant calves are released to the jungle after they become strong enough to survive in their natural habitats. As of 2008, sixty-five elephants had been released to the jungle.
