Pinnawala Open Zoo, Zoo in Pinnawala, Sri Lanka.
Pinnawala Open Zoo is an open-air zoo in Pinnawala, Sri Lanka, divided into two zones where animals such as leopards, lions, and elephants are kept in large open enclosures. Pathways run through the grounds and allow visitors to move around and view the animals from multiple angles.
The project started around 2000 but was soon suspended and only restarted in 2008. After years of construction, the zoo finally opened to the public in 2015.
The zoo focuses on animals native to Sri Lanka, such as leopards and purple-faced leaf monkeys kept in enclosures that follow the shape of natural habitats. This gives visitors a direct encounter with wildlife that is rarely spotted outside protected areas on the island.
The zoo sits along the main road between Colombo and Kandy, so it is easy to reach by car, train, or local transport from either city. Morning visits tend to work well, as the animals are more active in cooler temperatures.
The leopard enclosure is the largest single section in the zoo, giving these normally secretive cats far more space than any other area on the grounds. This makes it one of the most noticeable spots during a walk through the site.
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