Drunken elephants electrocute themselves

jcat

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This is a really strange story. Poor creatures.

Drunken elephants die in accident

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC correspondent in Calcutta

Four wild elephants drunk on rice beer have been electrocuted in the north-east Indian state of Meghalaya, wildlife officials report.
The elephants are known to have a taste for rice beer brewed by tribal communities across north-east India.

But this is the first time some of them have died after consuming the drink.

A herd of about 20 to 25 elephants went on the rampage in a remote area in the West Garo Hills district earlier this week after getting high on the beer.

As panicky villagers fled for cover, leaving behind their freshly brewed beverage, the elephants drank to their heart's content.

The inebriated elephants then struck an electric pole and brought it down.

But their trunks took the brunt of the shock from the high-tension wire.

Four of the elephants were killed instantly.

Assam's elephant expert Kushal Konwar Sharma, a lecturer, said these elephants frequently consume rice beer and cause devastation when they become intoxicated.

Wildlife officials say in the last two years elephants have killed at least 180 people in Assam and Meghalaya.

And more than 200 elephants have been killed by angry villagers during the last six years in the two states, in what is developing into a fierce conflict between man and beast.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...ia/3423881.stm

Published: 2004/01/23 16:29:40 GMT
 

purr

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Poor babies. Elephants are my favorite type of animal.
 

willowsmom

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LOL do drunk elephants see Pink people? lol SOrry bad joke. That is pretty sad even though it would have been a sight to see.
 

rbg

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It would take a lot of wine to get an animal that size drunk and I can't imagine they'd find a stash big enough for that many. Not to be a party pooper, but I find it a little hard to believe.
They are amazing creatures. I get an opportunity to be up close to some every year. We usually take them carrots, so they get excited when they see us coming each year. If we don't have any, they check out our pockets. They liked to steal my dad's pens from his shirt pocket. I'd love to spend the whole day with them, but their trainer would get a little tired of me, I'm afraid. Or he'd have me cleaning up after them!
 

a_loveless_gem

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This sort of thing does happen.

I've watched many documentaries and read many reports about problematic elephants. There are often vast quantities of alcohol involved, and not every elephant needs to be drunk in order to join the stampede.
 
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