Jennell and I visited the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage on our travel day from Kandy—in Sri Lanka’s highlands—back to Colombo. First set up in 1975 to look after seven orphaned baby elephants, it now houses the world’s largest collection of elephants in captivity, around 75 at this point, ranging in age from first year to approximately 65. Many of the elephants were orphaned, abandoned, or injured in the wild; however, the orphanage averages about one new arrival born in captivity each year.We arrived while the elephants were still indulging in their leisurely morning bath activities (about two hours worth) in the Ma Oya, the river running beside the village. Then, around noon, the mahouts drove the elephants back through a village street and across the main highway to their feeding and living area. We had fun watching all of antics during every act comprising a normal day in the life of an elephant at Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage!
Jennell watching the bath time scenario
A mahout showers one of his charges.
The beginning of the exodus of the elephants from the river to the feeding and living area. The "bad boys"--the ones hobbled with chains--were moved first.
Driving the elephants up from the river through a village street
Here elephants are crossing the main highway...which isn't so much of a highway in our envisioning of such a term, by the way.
A truckload of "elephant food" headed into the living and feeding grounds.
Jennell sipping on the liquid of a king coconut while watching... I, on the other hand, nibbled fresh mango slices. 
Elephants lunching after the morning bath time
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