New elephant orphanage in Ulankulama

Priyanka Kurugala

Wildlife Department Director General Chandrawansa Pathirage, said that a new interim elephant orphanage was being constructed at Ulankulama in the North Central Province.

The proposed elephant orphanage would be constructed under the guidance of Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena.

He further said that Minister S M Chandrasena had participated in an observation tour to inspect the proposed site of the orphanage recently.

The new orphanage was to be situated at Ulankulama, along the A-12 highway from Puttalam to Trincomalee. The Authority has also planned to use the new interim orphanage for treating injured elephants from ranges such as Kurunegala Puttalam and Anuradhapura, the Director General said.

Up to now Wildlife authorities have the task of transporting animals injuried in man-elephant conflicts to the interim elephant orphanage in Udawalawe in the Ratnapura district.