Sri Lanka's premier zoo at Dehiwela, on the southern outskirts of Colombo, was once the finest and largest in Southeast Asia. Even before the days of mass tourism it attracted a surprising number of overseas visitors. The zoo might not be the finest or largest today, but thanks to a comprehensive programme of reform that is doing away with cages and enclosed spaces, it has become increasingly conservation and education-conscious. You'll find a day trip to the zoo and the nearby beach at Mount Lavinia makes for a pleasant outing ...

At the Dehiwela Zoo. © Resource Asia Network
The National Zoological Gardens, Dehiwela - more commonly called the Dehiwela Zoo - has a curious history. In the early years of the 20th century, John Hagenbeck, brother of the famous animal trainer, Carl Hagenbeck, established the Ceylon Zoological Gardens Company at Dehiwela. The 11-acre plot of land was used by the Hagenbecks as a collecting depot for captured wild animals destined for the zoos of Europe. However, the company went bankrupt in 1936 and was purchased by the Government.

Initially the zoo came under the purview of the Government Agent of Colombo and was headed by a Superintendent. When it was made an autonomous department in 1946 the main aim was to satisfy people's curiosity and thus the zoo was more focused on entertainment rather than conservation. The first director, Major Aubrey Weinman, built cages large and small to house an ever-increasing number of specimens. He also introduced shows, such as the elephant performance and the chimpanzee tea party, which brought in visitors by their thousands.

In the 1970s and 80s vast advancements were made in zoo management. During this period Dehiwela Zoo really came into its own. Though slow to begin with, due to lack of funds and trained staff, reforms meant that the zoo soon became the pioneer of the open plan concept in Asia. The menagerie notion of old was abandoned for open spaces and 'soft' barriers instead of bars. The educational functionality of a zoo as a tool of scientific research and conservation was also realized.

The colony of jackass penguins found in Dehiwela is a symbol of what the zoo is becoming. These penguins are an example of the partnership between other zoos, for they came originally from the Tokyo Sea Life Park. The penguins are housed in an air-conditioned compartment but are to be found in their outdoor enclosure as well as a glass-fronted tank. If you are lucky enough to pass by at feeding time, watch them dive after food. The colony has also had one chick, making the Dehiwela zoo the only place in the region to have successfully bred the species in captivity.

Penguins are not the only breeders at Dehiwela. Sri Lankan leopards, African lions, capuchin monkeys, macaws and many species of endemic fish have also reared their young at the zoo. The latest arrival is Sandy, the baby hippopotamus, born on 29th August 2003 to Julie and Konga. The two adults - a gift from the Singapore National Zoo - are noted for their ability to eat their way through 50 kilos of grass, five kilos each of carrots and cabbages, and a kilo each of cucumber and pumpkin at one sitting!

Other newcomers to the zoo are two orangutans. They were brought to Dehiwela through a partnership programme with the Lagunan Zoo in Indonesia, which received two Sri Lankan leopards in exchange.

 
Going into a detailed description of the list of animal species to be found at the zoo would be an extensive endeavor. As an indicator of the diversity to be seen, however, the Dehiwela zoo has an aquarium, a herpetarium and a walk-through aviary and butterfly house apart from the many cages and enclosures.

The zoo has well-signposted trails and paths that enable the visitors to find their way with ease. If required, however, guides can be arranged at the office. It must be mentioned that wheelchair access to the trails is rather limited. Snacks and drinks are available throughout the zoo and a restaurant caters to more selective needs.

The large lake at the centre of the zoo is the breeding ground of many species of aquatic birds that have chosen the site on their own accord. Pelicans, egrets and cormorants seen here are free to move about as they please and are often seen roosting in trees away from the zoo.

The zoo and its gardens - now 24 acres in extent - are best experienced early morning as soon as the zoo opens. The animals -representing some 350 species - are naturally more active at this time, going through feeding and cleaning rituals, it is cooler, and fortunately the crowds wouldn't have arrived as yet. Bear in mind that the zoo does tend to get overcrowded at weekends.

At the Dehiwela Zoo. © Resource Asia Network
Though the zoo was a pioneer of the open plan concept, this is yet to be implemented throughout the zoo, so bars and cages are still to be found. Construction of new enclosures is an ongoing development that visitors have to bear with. It's worthwhile, for enclosures like the lion and gibbon islands are a fascinating place to watch the animals in their simulated surroundings.

The elephant show - which is still a major attraction - has yet to be discontinued, even though it is unnatural and demeaning. However, these days it is preceded by a talk on conservation and human-elephant conflict. Conservation talks also precede chimpanzee and sea lion feeding times. These talks are conducted by the Young Zoologists Association, which also carries out similar education work at the 'petting zoo'. This area, targeted at kids, lets them handle animals while at the same time learning about a particular animal's conservation status.

Elephants at Dehiwela Zoo. © Resource Asia Network
Coming attractions at the zoo are a museum and a live reef tank. The tank is in its final stages of construction and will be functioning by December. A reduction in animal species is also planned to give more room for open areas like an elephant and big cat enclosure.

Sri Lankan Sloth Bear. © Resource Asia Network
The Dehiwela Zoo may not be the finest of its kind, but it is a progressive one, giving the visitor a chance to observe wildlife at very close quarters. The well laid out gardens also give the opportunity to get away from the buzz of the city and keep in touch with nature.

Entrance fees:
Sri Lankans: Rs 35.00
Overseas visitors: Rs 200.00
Video Cameras: Rs 500.00

Open hours: 8.00 am - 6.00 pm everyday

Timings of special shows:
Chimpanzee feeding time: 3.30 pm daily
Sea lion feeding time: 4.00 pm daily
Elephant show: 5.15 pm daily
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