Russian circus elephants kept warm by 10 litres of vodka

CIRCUS trainers in Russia have claimed their elephants were saved from the cold by vodka.

Emergency ministry spokesman Alexander Davydov said today that the elephants were in a trailer that caught fire outside the city of Novosibirsk, forcing trainers to take them out into the cold before another truck arrived to deliver them to a warm gym at a local community college.

Local media have reported that trainer Leonid Labo had the animals, aged 45 and 48, drink 10 liters of vodka diluted in warm water - and a vet said later that only the tips of their ears were frostbitten.

Although scientists say that alcohol can make humans feel warmer but actually lowers their core body temperature, Novosibisk zoo director Rostislav Shilo said that the vodka saved the animals from frostbite and pneumonia, without harming them.