Elephants drink Volka wine

A circus employee gave two elephants a vodka to cope with the extremely cold weather in Russia.

Scientists claim alcohol reduces body temperature
elephants, although they feel hot after drinking alcohol. (Photo: psu.edu)

Two elephants, owned by a Polish circus touring in the Novosibirsk region of Russia, were forced out of wooden trailers after a fire in the car. The outdoor temperature is negative, so they face the risk of death from cold. But the men in the circus poured vodka into the warm water and gave them to drink.

"After drinking the mixture, they roared as if they were raging in the forest. Perhaps they roared with joy , " a local official told RIA Novosti.

The police then used a truck to transport elephants to a college garage to prevent them from chilling.

Scientists say that alcohol can make people and animals feel warmer, but in fact it reduces their body temperature. However, newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda quoted Rostislav Shilo, director of Novosibirsk zoo, confirming that vodka does not cause poisoning or any health damage to elephants.

"If you don't drink alcohol, they probably died of hypothermia or pneumonia," he commented.