The Real Operation Dumbo Drop

It's nice to know the elephants at the large Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage near Kegalle, Sri Lanka aren't just loafing around, not earning their keep. A money-making opportunity presents itself all day long, every day, in the form of dung. Operation Dumbo Drop, indeed.

A sign at a local shop, illustrating the cheery transformation of piles of steaming sh*t to piles of beautiful paper. The best truth-in-advertsing we've ever seen.

The paper really is nice - handmade, dyed, cut and made into snazzy diaries, cards, anything that boring mass produced paper is used for. But not toilet paper, that would be so gross. Like eating your young? Another sign, truly showing the circle of life.

Someone photographing a sample in the wild. Amazing!

Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage

If you want to see some elephants, a lot of elephants, Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage near Kegalle in Sri Lanka is the place for you. The orphanage was started in 1975 for five elephants and it now has a pack of pachyderms numbering more than 80. They come because of unfortunate circumstances, from land mines to run-ins with farmers. The orphanage has young, old and three-legged, all there to live out their days in peace.

Every day the elephants get to stroll a few blocks away from camp to the Ma Oya River for a little water frolicking.

The happy pack, young and old having a splash. Mother and child, doing a synchronized two-step while noshing.

Feeding (and napping, check out the lazing elephant to the right) in the round. Sarah in front of one of the newest additions. How cute?

This cute!