Lyn de Alwis

From the list of elephant persons Family: de Alwis

 ☨ Lyn de Alwis 
Picture of Lyn de Alwis
Profession zoo director
Personal details
Born 1930-10-27 in Sri Lanka

Dead 2006-11-22 in Sri Lanka

Residence
Address 30 Hotel Road
Place Mount Lavinia
District Colombo
Country Sri Lanka

Organisations

Title chairman 1985-1997
Organisation at IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) in

Locations
Title consultant 1996
Location at Sri Lanka National Zoological Gardens (Dehiwela Zoo) in Sri Lanka

Title consultant 1986-1986
Location at Singapore Night Safari in Singapore

Title director 1978-1985
Location at Pinnawala elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka

Title consultant 1970-1973
Location at Singapore Zoo in Singapore

Title director 1962-1985
Location at Sri Lanka National Zoological Gardens (Dehiwela Zoo) in Sri Lanka

Title zoologist 1955-1962
Location at Sri Lanka National Zoological Gardens (Dehiwela Zoo) in Sri Lanka

Relevant literature
Biography details

Lyn de Alwis , zoo director in Sri Lanka

de Alwis was born * 1930-10-27 in Sri Lanka dead 2006-11-22 , in Sri Lanka .

For five years between 1965-70, Mr de Alwis concurrently held the position of both Zoo Director and Director of Wildlife Conservation from 1965-1970 and 1977-1983. During those years, he established several sanctuaries and national parks, including the Uda Walawe National Park.

GAJAH 53 (2021) 56-59
During Lyn’s tenure as the Director of the Department of Wildlife, the first intensive
behavioural and ecological studies of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) were conducted in Sri Lanka. In 1966, the Department of Wildlife and the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society made a request to the Smithsonian Institution in the USA to initiate a detailed study of the Sri Lankan elephant. The Smithsonian put together a team that included Drs. Fred Kurt, Melvyn C. Lockhart, George M. McKay, and Robert Olivier with Dr. John F. Eisenberg as the team leader. They conducted their studies from 1967–1978.
Ravi Corea, Gajah 53 (2021) 56-59


Lyn de Alwis
Lyn de Alwis with elephant Indi, Dehivela Gardens, 1984.

GAJAH 53 (2021) 56-59
As the 2nd Chairman (1985–1997) of the IUCN/SSC Asian Elephant Specialists Group (AsESG),
Lyn reached out to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma at the time) and China, which
were all countries that were closed to foreigners.
Ravi Corea, Gajah 53 (2021) 56-59


1996: Colombo´s zoological gardens have been in acute decline and the government has recalled the former director from retirement to serve it as a consultant.


Lyn de Alwis is mentioned on 1 other person pagesKotuwe Punchi,  

Lyn de Alwis is mentioned on 3 location pagesPinnawala elephant orphanage,  Singapore Zoo,  Uda Walawe Nationalpark,  

Lyn de Alwis is mentioned on 1 elephant record pagesIndi,  

Reference list

References

Koehl, Dan, (2025). director Lyn de Alwis in Singapore. Elephant Encyclopedia, available online retrieved 23 May 2025 at https://www.elephant.se/person.php?id=648. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:


Selected publications

External links about Lyn de Alwis


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Categories director | zoo | Singapore Night Safari | de Alwis family | Born 1930 | Dead 2006 | People from Sri Lanka


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