In a peculiar incident that has garnered widespread attention, two elephants were photographed resting side by side in a tea field in Yunnan, southwestern China.
Initially believed to be the result of a wine-fueled escapade, the truth behind the images turned out to be far less dramatic.
According to villagers in Menghai County, within the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, the elephants were among a group of 14 that allegedly broke into a grain alcohol store, consuming around 30 liters of corn wine.
The sight of these two elephants lying down after their supposed raid led to widespread speculation that they were intoxicated.
Photos of the pair, shared by Zuzou Bingbing Travel Photography on Weibo and later on Twitter, quickly went viral, amassing over 140,000 likes. The images fueled the narrative of “drunken elephants” resting after their wild adventure.
However, local authorities soon clarified the situation. Yunnan officials, including Long Yunhai, deputy director of the Menghai Forestry and Grassland Administration, confirmed that the photos were taken the previous summer.
The elephants were not intoxicated but merely taking a break. Long shared footage of the elephants resting peacefully, dismissing the rumors of their drunken state as false.
Despite the amusing speculation, the incident involved a group of elephants, causing disruption.
Villagers reported damage to corn storage containers, grain alcohol vats, solar panels, windows, and doors.
The herd had wandered through a tea plantation, and the two elephants captured on camera were merely resting, not recovering from an alcohol binge.
The misunderstanding serves as a reminder that sometimes, even the most seemingly humorous situations can be misinterpreted.
In this case, the elephants were simply enjoying a peaceful rest, far from the wild tales that quickly spread across social media.
Read more Elephant News.
