Six Rehabilitated Elephants Released into Maw Ara Forest Reserve from Udawalawa Transit Home

Six rehabilitated elephants from the Eth Athuru Sevana (Elephant Transit Home) in Udawalawa were released into the Maw Ara Forest Reserve on Thursday, marking another significant step in Sri Lanka’s elephant conservation efforts.

The release was carried out in the presence of Environment Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody, and Wildlife Director General Ranjan Marasinghe.

All six elephants were fitted with GPS tracking collars to monitor their movement and adaptation to the wild. Officials noted that this is a standard part of the reintegration process, helping researchers and wildlife authorities ensure the safety of the animals and evaluate the success of the rehabilitation programme.

The Elephant Transit Home is renowned for rehabilitating orphaned elephant calves until they are old enough to survive independently in the wild. This latest release reflects the continued commitment of the Department of Wildlife Conservation to balance wildlife protection with broader ecosystem management.