Visitors" reactions to the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, Sri Lanka: an empirical survey
Date
2007
Authors
Bandara, Ranjith
Tisdell, Clem
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya
Abstract
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (PEO), a well-known captive elephant-based recreational facility in Sri Lanka, attracts many domestic and foreign visitors. Over 35,000 visitors (both local and foreign) visit the PEO per month on average for a variety of reasons. However, little or no attempt has been made to examine their reaction to its activities. This paper reports preliminary findings from two visitor surveys (one local and one foreign) conducted at the PEO to examine the characteristics of visitors, the satisfaction they gained from the visit, their attitudes towards conservation of the elephant, their reactions to the current facilities available at the orphanage, and their opinions and the maximum willingness to pay (WTP) to enter the PEO. It is found that, although some variations occurred between the samples, the majority of all respondents showed a similar reaction to the activities and facilities at the orphanage. However, some differences are evident between these two samples in relation to satisfaction received, responses to the WTP (elicitation) and attitudes towards the information and interpretive facilities. Overall, the majority of the respondents indicated that their support for the conservation of the Asian elephant had increased considerably with their visit to the orphanage. This indicates that considerable unrecorded and as yet unutilised support could be generated both financially and otherwise to conserve this endangered species through wildlife based recreation facilities such as the PEO in Sri Lanka.
Description
Keywords
Pinnawala elephant orphanage , Empirical survey
Citation
Modern Sri Lanka Studies, Vol. 2 ,No. 1, 2007, pp. 120-146