In Sri Lanka, Sun Siyam Pasikudah has been funding part of the care of Kalo, a young elephant rescued by the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe, since 2024. To mark World Elephant Day, the resort is highlighting this support program, which is set to continue until the animal's planned reintroduction into the wild.
Summary
In Sri Lanka, Kalo is preparing to return to the wild
Kalo arrived at the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe on March 23, 2024, when he was about eight months old. According to information published by Sun Siyam, the young elephant had been found in an abandoned well near Galenbidunuwewa, in the Anuradhapura district, after being separated from his herd.
The Sun Siyam Pasikudah hotel officially announced its support for Kalo on May 8, 2024, as part of the CarePhant initiative, conducted in partnership with the Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Elephant Transit Home. The resort states that it contributes monthly to the funding of Kalo's food, veterinary care, and rehabilitation.
The contribution announced at the project's launch amounted to 65,000 Sri Lankan rupees per month. Sun Siyam pledged to maintain this support until Kalo's return to the wild.
A reintroduction now planned for 2029
The program does not involve keeping the animal in a tourist facility. Kalo remains in the care of the Elephant Transit Home, a facility dedicated to the rehabilitation of young elephants before their return to the wild.
In an update published in March 2026, Sun Siyam indicated that Kalo had integrated into a group of young elephants and was continuing his training in preparation for reintroduction. His return to the wild is currently planned for 2029, subject to his progress and the assessment of the teams monitoring him.
The timeline is therefore indicative. It depends on the animal's ability to become sufficiently independent to reach a wild environment.
Sun Siyam Pasikudah includes the project in his environmental strategy
CarePhant is part of Sun Siyam's sustainable development program, which also covers waste reduction, resource management, biodiversity, local sourcing and relationships with the communities around its facilities.
At Sun Siyam Pasikudah, the group highlights the use of local products, conservation efforts, and experiences focused on the culture and villages of Sri Lanka's East Coast.
The resort is located on the northeast coast of the country and has 34 suites. Its official website also mentions the presence of a nearby coral reef as well as excursions to villages, national parks and several cultural sites.
Travelife Gold: a certification obtained at the end of 2024
The press release issued on the occasion of World Elephant Day also mentions the Travelife Gold certification of Sun Siyam Pasikudah.
Publicly available information confirms that the establishment obtained this certification in December 2024.Publications from Sun Siyam dating from 2026 still indicate that the resort holds the Travelife Gold certification.
However, the public sources consulted do not allow us to precisely confirm the date of a recent renewal. It is therefore more accurate to state that the establishment is Travelife Gold certified, without specifying the date of any further renewal.
Travelife evaluates criteria related to energy and water consumption, waste, social practices, employee well-being, biodiversity and relations with local communities.
A commitment that the resort wants to establish over the long term
In the press release issued in August 2026, Arshed Refai, General Manager of the Sun Siyam Pasikudah, directly links the Kalo project to the establishment's environmental and social policy.
“Kalo’s story reminds us why this commitment is essential. Sri Lanka’s wildlife, culture, and communities are what make this island so extraordinary, and we have a responsibility to protect them, not only for our guests but for the entire country. Our Gold certification confirms that we hold ourselves to the appropriate standards, but it is stories like Kalo’s and the choices we make every day at Pasikudah that remind us why these standards matter.”
Kalo's care remains primarily the responsibility of professionals at the Elephant Transit Home and the Department of Wildlife Conservation. The resort's role is to provide financial support for the rehabilitation program until the animal's eventual release back into the wild.
For professionals who program in Sri Lanka, the initiative primarily provides a concrete element to document the environmental commitments claimed by the establishment, beyond just general statements on responsible tourism.
Sources
- https://www.sunsiyam.com/about-sun-siyam/in-the-news/kalo-s-journey-continues/
- https://www.sunsiyam.com/about-sun-siyam/in-the-news/carephant-project/
- https://www.sunsiyam.com/about-sun-siyam/in-the-news/pasikudah-travelife-gold-certification/
- https://www.sunsiyam.com/sun-siyam-pasikudah/
- https://www.dwc.gov.lk/
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