Department of National Zoological Gardens - SL

The Head Office of the Department of National Zoological Gardens, is situated in the premise of the Dehiwala Zoo. The Dehiwala National Zoological Gardens, the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the Pinnawala Zoo, the Ridiyagama Safari Park, and Gonapola Farm which operates under the Department of National Zoological Gardens are the five main operational units engaged in Ex-situ conservation activities. 

Dehiwala Zoological Gardens was started by a German National named Mr. John Hagenbeck in 1905 in a five-acre land as a temporary holding ground for elephants to be exported to Hamberg, Germany.  As time elapsed many locals visited the place to observe the elephants and other exotic animals that were housed there at the time. The Government officially took over on the 03rd of July 1936. It was established as an independent state Department in 1946 and later named as “Department of National Zoological Gardens” in 1946.