Sri Lankan wildlife authorities have restricted tourist access to the core zones of drought-stricken national parks in a bid to protect wildlife as the regional effects of the El Niño climate pattern intensify.
Key Highlights
- Visitors are temporarily barred from inner park zones to minimize stress on suffering wildlife populations.
- Severe water shortages have depleted natural reservoirs, forcing animals to congregate around scarce water sources.
- Conservationists warn that prolonged dry spells linked to El Niño could exacerbate human-wildlife conflict and ecological strain.
Rising temperatures and extended dry weather have severely impacted water levels across the island’s prominent nature reserves. Wildlife officials reported that intense safari vehicle traffic in sensitive central areas was placing unnecessary stress on animals already struggling with dwindling food supplies and parched habitats.
By cordoning off the heart of these protected areas, park managers aim to allow elephants, leopards, and other species unimpeded access to remaining natural water holes. Authorities are also implementing contingency measures, including trucking water to artificial troughs and monitoring vulnerable species, to mitigate the impact of the ongoing drought.