PINNAWALA ZOO

Sri Lanka’s first open-air zoo was open in 2015 for public display. It is located right next to the popular Elephant Orphanage and is a branch of the zoological garden in Dehiwala. The need of a second zoological garden was felt long time ago since the rich biodiversity in Sri Lanka provides a big space for such facility. On the other hand, there are lots of endemic and native animals who need to be looked after and the public must be given an opportunity to recognize them in order to enhance their awareness about the richness of biodiversity in Sri Lanka. The concept of open-air zoology, unlike the conventional caged animals, provides the animals with a comparatively large space for their movements. It currently shelters numerous endemic species including Sri Lankan leopard, leaf monkey, Sri Lankan elephant and many Sri Lankan birds.