Written by: Dave Owen

Women in India have been knitting colourful jumpers for rescued elephants as temperatures at night plummet to near-zero.

The women live in a village near the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in the northern city of Mathura. When staff reported nearly sub-zero temperatures at night, local women decided to knit them some pyjamas.

The elephants are now warm and fabulous.



The centre looks after elephants rescued from abusive owners or chronic neglect. Their new garments cover their back, legs, and neck.“It is important to keep our elephants protected from the bitter cold during this extreme winter, as they are weak and vulnerable having suffered so much, making them susceptible to ailments such as pneumonia,” Kartick Satyanarayan, founder of the centre, told the Times of India . The cold also aggravates their arthritis, a common issue in rescued elephants.While the centre currently houses 20 rescued elephants, there are plans this year to expand so that it can accommodate up to 70.They certainly won’t be getting a cold any time soon.