Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, Wildlife rehabilitation facility in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home is a rehabilitation center located within Udawalawe National Park that cares for orphaned elephant calves. Staff provide medical treatment, daily feeding, and training to prepare these young animals for eventual release back into the wild.

The Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home was established in 1995 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation, under the 29th Amendment to the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance Part II. It was set up to house orphaned calves of the endangered Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus), many left behind when mothers are killed in human-elephant conflict. The elephants are kept within part of Udawalawe National Park to maintain familiarity with their habitat.

The center reflects local values about caring for orphaned young animals by keeping human contact minimal, which locals see as essential for successful return to the wild. This approach shapes how visitors understand wildlife protection in the region.

Visitors can watch feeding sessions daily from designated observation platforms and should arrive in early morning or late afternoon when elephants are most active. The facility is walkable on foot, and it helps to wear comfortable shoes and bring sun and rain protection.

The home was set up under the 29th Amendment to the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance Part II, a legal detail most visitors never hear. It also holds information on elephants, and Dilmah Conservation installed a solar heater to warm the milk given to orphaned calves.