Sri Lanka marked the golden jubilee of the iconic Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on Sunday, celebrating 50 years of caring for majestic giants at the sanctuary.

Located 90 km from Colombo in Rambukkana, the orphanage was inaugurated in 1975. “This was started with five baby elephants. Today it provides refuge for 69 elephants from various age groups,” the Director General of the Zoological Department Chandana Rajapaksa said.