Trainers Protect Elephants At Pinnawela Orphanage In Sri Lanka

Mahout walks elephant for a regular bath at the river of Maha Oya close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

 

©Buddhika Weerasinghe

Mahouts, elephant riders, lineup the elephants for a bath at the Maha Oya river close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Elephants bath at the Maha Oya river close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Two baby elephants play during a bath at the Maha Oya river close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Mahout elephant rider sits during a regular bath ofnelephants at the river of Maha Oya close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Two baby elephants play during a bath at the Maha Oya river close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

An elephants walk during a bath at the Maha Oya river close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Elephants walk through the Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Two baby elephants play during a bath at the Maha Oya river close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Mahout walks elephant for a regular bath at the river of Maha Oya close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Mahout walks elephant for a regular bath at the river of Maha Oya close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

A caretaker feeds a baby elephant at the Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Visitors offer fruits to the elephant at the Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Elephants rest at the Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

A baby elephant feeds from his mother at the Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Elephants walk through the Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

An elephant rests during a bath at the Maha Oya river close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Mahout elephant rider stands during a regular bath ofnelephants at the river of Maha Oya close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Mahout, an elephant rider, walks through a herd of elephants at the Maha Oya river close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Elephants bath at the Maha Oya river close to Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Elephant walk back to orphanage after the bath at Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)

Elephants walk through the Pinnawele Elephant orphanage on July 6, 2012 in Pinnawele, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage was established to care for five orphaned wild elephants in 1975 by the Department of Wildlife, and is now home to 83 elephants. The orphanage is located about 96 kilometers from Colombo towards Kandy, and is a popular local and foreign tourist attraction. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe)