The zoo boasts 21 acres of lush gardens with integrated animal enclosures, a walk-through aviary, reptile house and an aquarium. A wide range of species can be viewed, from African elephants and giant kudu to coral reef fish, deadly Russell's vipers and cobras and harmless, brilliant butterflies.
Many colourful birds fly freely among the trees.
More than a million visitors pass through the zoo each year, many of them local schoolchildren. There is a strong educational element to many of the displays, particularly emphasizing the importance of conserving Sri Lanka's own endangered species. Without a doubt, though, the most popular attractions are the daily performances by trained elephants and sea-lions, which attract locals and tourists alike, anxious for entertainment as well as an escape from the pressures of the city. Foreign visitors also make a beeline for a famous outpost of the zoo - the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage near Kegalle. Some of them are only two or three months old, so we have to feed them and look after every aspect of their life.