Drunken elephants electrocuted

  • Thread starter Ivan Seeking
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In summary, four wild elephants in India's Meghalaya state were electrocuted after getting drunk on rice beer and running amok through villages. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of alcohol consumption for elephants and the need for measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
  • #1
Ivan Seeking
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FOUR wild elephants who ran amok after getting drunk on rice beer were electrocuted in India's northeastern state of Meghalaya when they brought down power lines, an official said Tuesday.

The herd went on the rampage on Sunday night after storming into villages and drinking from open casks of beer in a remote area in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district.

"The elephants after getting high on rice beer, went berserk and started dashing against an electric pole," the forest official said.[continued]

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8444309%5E13762,00.html
 
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  • #2
This is the kind of tragedy that must inevitably ensue if elephants do not have mice dressed in marching band attire to guide them through their inevitable and unintentional experiences with alcohol consumption.
 
  • #3
They need to form an Anti-Saloon League for elephants, or the ETU (Elephant Temperance Union).

I guess there is a lesson in here for all of us: Dont drink and ram repeatedly into electrical poles.
 
  • #4
Strange. Most of the alcoholic elephants I know just get maudlin and unmotivated.
 

1. What is the background behind the story of drunken elephants being electrocuted?

The story of drunken elephants being electrocuted originated in 2004 in the Indian state of Assam, where a herd of elephants allegedly broke into a village and consumed a large quantity of homemade rice beer. It was reported that six of the elephants were electrocuted after coming into contact with a high-voltage electric pole while inebriated.

2. Is there any scientific evidence to support the idea of elephants getting drunk and being more susceptible to electrocution?

There is currently no scientific evidence to support the claim that elephants can become intoxicated from consuming alcohol and subsequently become more vulnerable to electrocution. Elephants are known to have a high tolerance for alcohol, and there have been no documented cases of elephants becoming drunk in the wild.

3. How did this story gain so much attention and become a widely believed myth?

The story gained attention due to its sensational nature and was widely reported by the media. However, it was later revealed that the story was based on unverified rumors and had no factual basis. Despite this, the myth of drunken elephants being electrocuted continues to persist.

4. Are there any other known cases of elephants consuming alcohol?

There have been a few documented cases of elephants consuming alcohol in captivity, but these incidents were due to intentional feeding by humans and not a natural occurrence. In the wild, elephants have been observed consuming fermented fruit, but there is no evidence to suggest that they become intoxicated from it.

5. What are the actual threats that elephants face in their natural habitats?

Elephants face a myriad of threats in their natural habitats, including habitat loss and fragmentation, human-elephant conflict, poaching for their ivory tusks, and human disturbance. These factors have contributed to the decline in elephant populations and are the real issues that need to be addressed to protect these magnificent animals.

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