Sri Lanka, Sept. 14 -- More national parks could be temporarily closed if the prevailing heatwave and prolonged dry conditions intensify, as wildlife authorities struggle to protect animals from increasingly harsh weather conditions.

The warning comes after the Wildlife Department decided to close Blocks 1 and 2 of Yala National Park from September 14 to October 15, while keeping Blocks 3, 4, 5 and 6 open to visitors.

A senior Wildlife Department official said authorities were closely monitoring the weather and could consider temporarily closing additional national parks if temperatures continue to rise, particularly under an El Nino-related weather pattern.

The official said the prevailing heat and dry conditions were creating increa...