Club Concept Elephant Bath
Opened to the public in 1979, this concept of caring elephants was initiated & founded by an animal lover, Mr. Sam Samarasinghe (1931 to 1991).
Millennium Elephant Foundation
Millennium Elephant Foundation (MEF) was started in 1999 for improving the welfare of domesticated elephants from all over Sri Lanka. With the sole purpose of giving good care to elephants, MEF covers all the finances that are needed to run an organization such as this.
Millennium covers all costs that include the following:
- Care, medical treatments and food.
- Salaries for mahouts & running costs of the charity.
- On-call mobile veterinary units
MEF was started with assistance from the World Society for the Protection of Animals or World Animal Protection.
MEF works like a sanctuary for elephants with proper medical care facilities, as mentioned before. Here, injured & young, and lost elephants are given proper care as part of rehabilitation; after which, the elephants stay here lifelong.
Unique Experience
Elephant Walk Experience is a truly unique way to enjoy some quality time with these gentle giants. People can volunteer to take care of an elephant while walking with them. One can adopt an elephant to provide the care it needs.
Walking is the better way to treat an elephant rather than riding on them. MEF understands this and hence has given a free rein for elephants to roam about freely, as if in a natural forest habitat.
Anything for Elephants
Along with taking care of elephants, MEF gives a proper awareness about crippling conditions that can tire an elephant out. This information is very helpful for all those who love to take care of elephants. Mistreated & gravely injured or wounded elephants are brought here at MEF, and given good care which aids in rehabilitating them. These would be elephants mostly from the logging industry, and other jobs that might injure an elephant.
MEF Experiences
Tourists can volunteer to be part of an elephant’s life for a day or more. Each person will be assigned an elephant, which they can tag along with the animal. From feeding an elephant to walking along with them for baths, while getting to know more about the history of the animal is indeed a unique experience.
Volunteers work with mahouts in preparing special vitamin balls, assist in vet checks and help cleaning the beds of elephants. People who volunteer can also try their hands in creating paper using elephant feces. A garden that is full of medicinal & other plants that can be used as food for elephants as well as people, aids in keeping the elephants healthy at MEF.
Globes Travel & Shorexcursions ASIA
We at Shorexcursions ASIA have a good team that can take all travelers to MEF to experience a day with elephants in their natural habitat, while in Sri Lanka.
