The UK enclosure is to promote the conservation of the Asian elephants

The elephant enclosure named after Uda Walawe elephant sanctuary was declared open by the Sri Lanka High Commissioner in the Twycross Zoo in the Midlands.

The enclosure that includes a jungle pathway and a village classroom is completed with other cultural attractions of Sri Lanka.

“Uda Walawe concept was the brainchild of Mr Vasantha Nugegoda a world renowned Zoologist and designer of Zoological enclosures across the world,” said a statement issued by the UK office of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, that facilitated the project.

Wildlife conservation

It said the Uda Walawe enclosure at Twycross, the first in the world to theme a Sri Lankan elephant habitat, will promote the conservation of the Asian elephants and act as a shop window for crucial wildlife conservation programmes in Sri Lanka.

Sanjika Perera, Director of Sri Lanka Tourism in UK, told BBC Sandeshaya that no elephant has been brought from Sri Lanka to set up the enclosure.

“I think the elephants are from India and Myanmar –they are Asian elephants- and the zoo wanted to offer the visitors an authentic experience of Sri Lanka,” he said.

“It is our ambition to encourage visits to the wildlife areas of Sri Lanka and to share with our visitors the magical aura of Sri Lanka,” Suzanne Boardman, Director of Twycross Zoo said.