World

Fact Check: Viral sleeping elephants did not get drunk from wine

Monday, May 11, 2020 at 5:47 PM by Tunde Ososanya

- The photographs of some elephants went viral some time ago with reports that they were drunk

- The group of 14 elephants was said to have fallen asleep after consuming 30kg of corn wine

- However, fresh details have emerged concerning the story

While the world is battling with coronavirus and maintaining social distancing, photographs of a group of 14 elephants went viral with claims that they got drunk and fell asleep.

According to the reports, they got drunk after taking 30kg of corn wine in the Yunnan province of China.

A Facebook page Epicalyptic, claimed that the elephants were looking for corn and other food when they came across the corn wine.

Legit.ng has gathered that the story may not be accurate.

Elephants In China Get Drunk On Corn Wine — The drunk elephants. Photo credit: Epicalyptic
Source: UGC

The elephants were found sleeping at a nearby tea garden, the report said.

Xinhua quotes Long Yunhai, deputy director of the Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Menghai County, as saying that the report is not true.

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Though the photos exist, one of them is said to be linked to a report on how to manage and protect elephants on Yunnan Network, a news website in June 19, 2019.

In other news, an orangutan made a rare show of love when it tried to assist a man in a river by offering its outstretched arm to the man.

The animal thought the man was stuck in the river, not knowing that he was searching for snakes.

The ape lives in a protected conservation forest area in Borneo, while the man works for the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation - a non-profit organisation aimed at protecting the endangered species.

The worker was clearing away snakes in an effort to guard the orangutans when one of the apes showed up.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Department of Wildlife and National Parks alerted the residents of southern district of Botswana of five roaming elephants in the area.

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This was stated in a press release which also warned residents to be vigilant and exercise extra caution when moving around the district.

The authority also advised residents to avoid the use of herding dogs and rifles so as not to scare the animals.

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The statement read: "Members of the public are therefore warned to be vigilant and exercise extra caution when moving around in these areas and are advised not to use herding dogs and rifles to scare them or make any form of noise as these will agitate them, as a result make them dangerous to their lives.

"Any sightings of those elephants or anything suspected to be such animals should be reported to the nearest Wildlife offices at 5441250 (Kanye), and 5889244 (Mabutsane), police at 999 or any government offices in the Southern district."