Making a Difference: Anantara Kalutara’s Support for Elephant Health

Anantara Kalutara Steps Up for Sri Lanka’s Elephants

Anantara Kalutara Resort has made a significant contribution to support Sri Lanka’s endangered elephant population by donating a much-needed ultrasound machine to the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe. The veterinary surgeon at Elephant Transit Home, Dr. Malaka Abeywardana, specifically requested specialized medical equipment to improve the medical care for rehabilitating injured elephants and preparing them for reintroduction into the wild. This donation was made possible by Anantara Hotels & Resorts’ Dollars for Deeds program, a brand-wide initiative that encourages guests to contribute to worthy causes.

The Elephant Transit Home, situated in the Udawalawe National Park, serves as a temporary sanctuary for orphaned baby elephants. These young elephants are cared for with minimal human contact to ensure that they maintain their natural instincts. The facility offers an open range, forested area, and access to the Udawalawe reservoir, providing the elephants with a nurturing natural environment to thrive in. After receiving care for four to five years, they are reintegrated into the wild. Notably, the Transit Home is the first of its kind in Asia and one of only a few operating globally.

“This initiative exemplifies the powerful connection between our guests and the resort in fostering communal responsibility. We are committed to supporting the incredible work done by the Elephant Transit Home through an ongoing, collaborative partnership,” said Keith Tomkies, Cluster General Manager of Anantara Kalutara Resort and Avani Kalutara Resort in Sri Lanka.

Minor Hotels’ initiative is part of their global efforts to support endangered elephant populations. Since 2005, Minor Hotels, the parent group of Anantara Hotels & Resorts, has run the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. In addition to its welfare work, the foundation currently has three ongoing wild elephant protection projects in Thailand and Cambodia.

Anantara Kalutara Resort is raising additional funds to sponsor essential medical equipment, facilitate monthly care initiatives for elephant calves during rehabilitation, install CCTV systems for wildlife observation, and support a disease control project within the Transit Home.