Two elephants saved by vodka, science notwithstanding

I think that in the long rivalry between connoisseurs of the drink and the science the last word belongs to the former now.

Two elephants have been saved from the deadly Siberian cold by drinking vodka, Russian officials say. They say the animals had to be taken out into the bitter cold after the wooden trailer they were travelling in caught fire in the Novosibirsk region. The elephants, aged 45 and 48, suffered frostbite to the tips of their ears amid temperatures of -40C (-40F). But they were warmed up by two cases of vodka mixed with warm water, one official was quoted as saying.

Of course, BBC, fed by the public dime penny, has to keep our health in mind, so they didn't forget a word of caution:

Like with humans, alcohol can make animals feel warmer but it actually lowers their core body temperature, scientists say.

I already feel warmer, being cared about by BBC, don't you? So, we can allow ourselves to lower our body temperature a degree or two.

Gesundheit! Or cheers, if you will.

P.S. Almost missed a point in that article:

The elephants belong to a Polish circus, which has been touring the region, reports say.

Uhu... so these are Polish elephants, in a way, and a few bottles of vodka didn't make no nevermind to them...