Every journey back to the wild begins somewhere
For Chai, it begins at Udawalawe
A young Sri Lankan elephant. A journey of growth. A future in the wild.
Through Basilur's Return to the Wild initiative, every Basilur Uva pack becomes part of a wider commitment to support the rehabilitation journey of Sri Lanka's elephants.
Meet Chai
- Born
- June 2025
- Gender
- Female
- From
- Seenipura, Kantale, Sri Lanka
Chai arrived at the Elephant Transit Home when she was just six months old, after becoming separated from her mother.
Today, she is growing, exploring and learning alongside other young elephants under the care of the Transit Home. Every day brings another little step towards the life she is being prepared for.
Her destination? The wild
A place with a purpose
Established in 1995, the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home provides care and rehabilitation for young elephants who are not yet ready to survive independently in the wild. Here, their days are built around what matters most:
Nutrition
Scheduled milk feeds and forage suited to each stage of growth.
Care
Veterinary attention and daily monitoring by the Transit Home team.
Growth
Room to roam, forage and build strength at a natural pace.
Rehabilitation
Minimal human contact, so wild instincts are never unlearned.
Learning to live as elephants
Growing up within a herd of other young elephants.
The aim is to prepare them for a future beyond the Transit Home — a life in the wild.
Five years can change a life
An elephant's journey to independence takes time. Young elephants can remain at the Transit Home for approximately five years while they grow and develop the ability to survive independently.
Arrival
Orphaned or separated, and brought into care.
Care and growth
Feeding, veterinary care and steady growth.
Learning independence
Foraging, herd behaviour, self-reliance.
Release
Returned to protected habitat as a group.
The wild
Living independently within Sri Lanka's ecosystems.
One day, they will be released and not guided back. And the journey continues where it was always meant to: in the wild.
The wild is more than a destination
It is where elephants belong. It is where they move through forests and grasslands, follow natural behaviours, interact with other elephants and live independently within Sri Lanka's ecosystems.
The journey from the Transit Home to the wild takes time. For the elephants, patience is part of the process.
Because Ceylon is more than tea
Basilur was born in Sri Lanka, a land known around the world for its exceptional tea — and for the remarkable natural heritage that surrounds it.
Our Leaf of Ceylon – Uva collection celebrates one part of that heritage. And on its pack, we chose to celebrate another:
The Sri Lankan elephant.
The elephant has long captured the imagination of people around the world. We believe that the love people have for these magnificent animals can become something meaningful for their future.
So, we chose to turn a pack of tea into a small invitation: to enjoy Ceylon. To celebrate Sri Lanka. And to give back to the land we call home.
A cup can carry a little more purpose
With every participating Basilur Uva pack purchased, a contribution is made towards supporting the rehabilitation journey of elephants at the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home.
Choose a participating pack
Any Basilur Uva pack carrying the campaign message.
We contribute from every pack
Alongside participating partners who share the commitment.
Support continues
Towards the rehabilitation work at Udawalawe.
And this is only the beginning. Our ambition is to continue this initiative and, together with our consumers and partners, support the journeys of more elephants towards the wild.
A conservation journey becomes stronger when more people choose to be part of it. Whether you discover the story through a cup of tea, a pack on a shelf, a social post or a shared moment — you are helping the story travel further.
Choose your cup. Be part of their journey
Explore the Leaf of Ceylon – Uva collection
Every cup creates hope