Pinnwala Zoo

Last updated on 01 Jun 2023Show location

The Pinnawala Open Air Zoo opened in April 2015 and is Sri Lanka's first open-air zoo. Located near the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the zoo is spread over 44 acres of land, beautifully landscaped without damaging its natural beauty. The zoo has two sections - "Sri Lankan" and "World" - which showcase Sri Lanka's rich animal diversity. The zoo is home to various native animals, such as deer, leopards, crocodiles, monkeys, birds, turtles, and more.

The "Sri Lankan" section of the zoo has a special open area where visitors can see the free-roaming Sri Lankan Leopard. This leopard subspecies is native only to Sri Lanka and is classified as an endangered species. Leopards are mainly found in dry evergreen monsoon forests, arid scrub jungles, rainforests, and low and upper highland forests. Observing these predators in the Pinnawala Open Air Zoo will be fascinating. The "World" section is under construction and is expected to house several non-native animal species. Visitors to the Pinnawala Open Air Zoo can witness the free-roaming animals in their natural habitats without the hindrance of cages and enclosures, making it a unique experience. The zoo promotes conservation by educating visitors about the importance of preserving and protecting wildlife. The Pinnawala Open Air Zoo is expected to become a popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka, attracting locals and foreigners. The Pinnawala Open Air Zoo has been designed to meet international standards, and measures have been taken to ensure it lives up to its promise. The zoo offers a range of facilities, including dining venues and relaxation areas, for both local and foreign visitors. Since it is located near the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, visitors can easily plan their itinerary and visit both places without hassle. The Pinnawala Open Air Zoo is home to many endemic animals of Sri Lanka. The zoo has been divided into seven enclosures, although construction is still underway for some, such as Monkey Island, Bird aviary, Amphibian area, and Pet area two. The zoo is interconnected with an internal road network.

The seven primary enclosures are: • Pet area • Swan Pond • Deer Enclosure • Crocodile Enclosure • Leopard Enclosure • Bear Enclosure • Butterfly Garden The Pinnawala Open Zoo is a zoological garden located near the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka. It has been divided into two sections: the Sri Lankan and World zones. The zoo is home to indigenous animals like chital, lion, Sri Lanka Leopard, Purple-faced leaf monkey, Wild boar, Sambar, Asian elephant, and various species of endemic birds. The area dedicated to observing leopards is the largest of all the enclosures. The Dehiwala Zoo is a well-known tourist attraction for its vast collection of animals. However, due to its location in a rapidly developing suburb of Colombo, the zoo has faced various limitations in expanding and upgrading to meet modern standards. Thus, the Pinnawala zoo was proposed as an alternative solution to these problems. One of the unique features of the Pinnawala Zoo is the petting area, which provides a live experience for visitors, especially children, to touch and pet domesticated animals even before they purchase tickets. The aim is to offer a welcoming animal experience as soon as visitors enter the zoo, helping them forget the fatigue of traveling. The pet area includes several exotic animal species, such as black swans, Muscovy ducks, turkeys, Bantam fowl, and Guinea fowl, and local species like star tortoises, black turtles, flapshell turtles, duck porcupines, rabbits, and peafowl.