The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is building a new, Rs. 45.3 million facility to individually house male elephants during their musth periods, which can last from one to six months.

According to Chandana Rajapaksa, Director General of the Department of National Zoological Gardens, the new facility is the largest of its kind in Sri Lanka and is being constructed in two phases. 

The project aims to reduce conflicts among the orphanage's 39 male elephants by providing them with separate, dedicated spaces when they become aggressive during musth. 

The first phase is scheduled to open next month.