What is the Elephant Transit Home?

The Elephant Transit Home (ETH) in Udawalawe is a wildlife conservation place, dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and later releasing orphaned wild elephant calves back into their natural home range.

And unlike commercial elephant orphanages, the ETH keeps tight limits on human presence so the animals do not become accustomed to people. Visitors can only watch from a set viewing platform during the scheduled feeding hours. This creates an ethical wildlife experience where the calves' return to the nearby Udawalawe National Park stays the main focus.