Hope in a Bottle

Surrounded by forests amidst the lush greenery, blowing winds and green grass, they roam around in a safe and secure environment. Miles away from their natural habitat in a foster home, they rely on the company of their kind while depending on their human caretakers for their food and water.

Situated on 200 acres bordering the Uda Walawe National Park and reservoir, is Asia’s first specialised rehabilitation centre, meant to care for orphaned baby elephants with the aim of releasing them back to the wild. The Elephant Transit Home (ETH) (Ath Athu Sevana) Udawalawe was established in 1995 based on the concept and initiative of former Deputy Director, Veterinary and Research Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), the late Dr. Nandana Atapattu.

It was created under the theme “Let them return to their homeland” to care, rehabilitate and nurture calves while minimising human contact to prevent habituation and for reintroduction to the wild. The centre acts as a crucial, ethical alternative to traditional orphanages by focusing on rehabilitation for the wild, rather than a captive life.

Elephant calves have no limits in the area and are free to roam wherever they want. They play, they run and are not chained or cruelly treated. But sadly, they lack the love of their mothers’ warmth, milk, and comfort. Sri Lankan elephants (Elephas maximus maximus) are an endangered species and are protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO). However, hundreds of elephants die every year due to gunshots, explosions, hakka pattas, snares, electrocution, poison or accidents (falls into manmade pits, wells, trenches during human chases/drives) – leaving behind their helpless and confused babies.

According to wildlife officials, some weak calves are abandoned by their mothers and others are just found wandering mainly with herds of buffalo. Illegally captured baby calves are also brought to the ETH for rehabilitation.

First orphan

The first orphaned baby elephant cared for at Ath Athuru Sevana was a one-year-old female elephant named Komali. She was found wandering alone in the forest near the Meegalawa area in the Anuradhapura district. Dr. Atapattu brought the elephant calf to ETH and registered her as the first resident, naming her “Komali.”

Since its founding, a total of 442 orphans have entered the ETH. Around sixty-seven per cent of all calves received by the ETH are less than one year old. Some don’t live long enough to be released to the wild. Around 186 elephant calves have been successfully released back into the wild.

The vital part of this whole operation is keeping the baby calves alive until they are old enough to be released back to the wild. Baby calves need their mothers’ milk for nourishment. But with no mother’s milk, wildlife officers have no option but to give them a milk formula that human babies use.

The calves are given milk every three hours and 365 days a year. Adapting orphaned elephant calves to powdered milk and a whole new environment requires the utmost patience and care, as unique milk formulas for elephants have yet to be introduced.

Calves are generally fed human baby milk formulas. After the initial milk feeding sessions to discover the best dairy formulas for elephant calves, to adapt to them individually, elephants are at increased risk of becoming ill with digestive problems or milk intolerance.

Elephant infant formula milk

In a landmark step for wildlife conservation in Sri Lanka, the China Merchants Group (CMG) the parent company of the China Merchants Port, the main investor of the Hambantota International Port Group (Pvt) Ltd (HIPG), the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), and the DWC have come together to introduce a pioneering nutritional intervention for orphaned elephant calves undergoing rewilding care.

“For the first time in the country, a specialised elephant infant formula milk will be imported from Australia to support orphaned calves — particularly infants below eight to ten months of age — who require nourishment equivalent to their mother’s milk during the most critical stage of development. This initiative will directly support 25 orphaned baby elephants currently under foster care at the ETH in Udawalawe. While older calves can gradually transition to supplementary feeding, infants depend heavily on milk nutrition,” Past President WNPS Jehan Canagaretna told Ceylon Today.

Survival during these early months determines not just immediate health outcomes, he says, but long-term viability in the wild. “Until now, Sri Lanka has not had access to a formula specifically designed to closely replicate the nutritional profile of an elephant mother’s milk. The introduction of this specialised formula marks a significant advancement in veterinary care and rewilding success. By strengthening early-stage nutrition, the partnership aims to improve survival rates and ensure healthier development before reintegration into natural habitats. This collaboration reflects a practical, science-led approach — combining conservation expertise, corporate support, and government stewardship to address a long-standing gap in orphaned elephant care,” Canagaretna explained.

According to him, the initial import will comprise 500 kilogrammes of specialised elephant infant formula Wombaroo Passwell from Australia, introduced as a carefully structured pilot intervention. The shipment will arrive in the country in March 2026.

Calves below eight weeks

“This formula is intended exclusively for calves below eight weeks of age — the most vulnerable and nutritionally dependent group within the foster cohort. At this early stage, calves require nourishment that closely mirrors their mother’s milk to kilogrammes immunity, growth, and early development. Given the product’s shelf life and the limited number of infants requiring this specific formulation at any given time, the 500-kilogrammes quantity has been intentionally calibrated to ensure optimal use with minimal wastage. Under this pilot phase, up to 25 orphaned calves will be supported through structured nutritional care,” Canagaretna said.

The older calves will continue on the existing human milk formula currently in use, he added, and this targeted approach ensures that the specialised formulation is reserved for those in the most critical window of survival, where improved nutrition can have the greatest impact on reducing early-stage mortality and strengthening long-term rewilding outcomes.

The partnership between the parties extends well beyond the ETH. Through its broader conservation mandate, HIPG continues to invest in initiatives that reduce Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC) while strengthening rural livelihoods. These include farmer education programmes focused on compassionate and practical conflict mitigation techniques, training and support for women farmers, equipping them with knowledge and alternative income-generation skills that reduce dependency on high-risk agricultural practices.

Community awareness initiatives are designed to promote safe and sustainable coexistence between people and wildlife. By addressing both wildlife rehabilitation and the socio-economic realities faced by affected communities, the initiative recognises that long-term conservation cannot succeed without community resilience.

“The foster care sponsorship of 25 orphaned calves underscores a deeper commitment — not merely to rescue, but to responsible rewilding. Each calf receives structured care, veterinary oversight, monitored nutrition, and gradual social integration before release back into protected habitats. The partnership between HIPG, WNPS, and DWC signals a maturing conservation model — one that prioritises science-based care for vulnerable wildlife while investing in community education and empowerment,” Canagaretna explained.

Environmental challenges

The HEC remains one of Sri Lanka’s most pressing environmental challenges, he says, and real progress requires collaboration, innovation, and sustained engagement. “This initiative demonstrates that when corporate leadership, conservation advocates, and State institutions align around a common purpose, meaningful and measurable impact becomes possible. Because protecting Sri Lanka’s elephants begins at the very first stage of life — and coexistence begins with shared responsibility,” Canagaretna noted.

Chief Operations Officer Tommy Yang, Chief Regulatory Affairs and Procurement Officer Johnny Zhuo, Deputy Chief Administration Officer Richard, Deputy Chief Legal Officer Yongzhuang Li Senior General Manager – HR and Administration Jeevan Premasara, General Manager, HIPS Captain Miyuru Gunasekara, Deputy General Manager Owen Li, Assistant General Manager Bob Wang, Assistant General Manager-HR, Local Affairs and CSR Buddhika Sandaruwan, Senior Manager Rohan Sanjeewa, Senior Manager – HR Services and Administration Hasitha Lakmal, Technical Manager Prabath Gamage, Senior Manager Procurement Mithun Malaka, Senior Manager Administration Upul Nishantha, General Secretary WNPS Rapti Dirckze, WNPS Canagaretna, Communication Executive WNPS Jadyn De Silva, and Executive Projects of WNPS Jayathri Gunasiri were present at the launch of this unique initiative.

It is estimated that it costs Rs 200,000 per day just to feed the calves with the milk formula they require. Commenting on the sponsorship programme, Veterinary Surgeon Uda Walawe Transit Home
Dr Malaka Abeywardana said there are 70 baby elephants at Ath Athu Sevana.

“Out of these 70 calves, 25 are sponsored under this special milk formula programme. At present, we are giving a milk formula to elephant calves. Some calves cannot handle this milk formula and get sick. So now we will be getting the special milk formula for elephant calves,” Dr Abeywardana said.

He went on to say that in July 2025, six baby elephants were released and are being monitored regularly. “In March 2026, we hope to release another batch. The baby elephants are released after they complete five years. Males and females are released together, in batches,” “ Dr. Abeywardana explained.

The process of care continues even after the orphans are released, usually in mini herds of four to a dozen, to the Uda Walawe National Park, Maduru Oya National Park, Kumana National Park and Lunugamvehera National Park.