Conservationists have welcomed Paris Hilton's apparent concern for elephants who, tanked up on rice beer, rampage around the Indian countryside with sometimes tragic results.

During the highly-talented heiress's trip last week (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/07/hilton_tokyo/) to Tokyo, she highlighted the pachyderm piss-up problem which recently accounted (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/drunken_elephants/) for six animals in the state of Meghalaya.

To recap, 40 elephants helped themselves to locals' hooch, then attacked an electricity pole, with predictable results.

According to the Guardian, Hilton said: "There would have been more casualties if the villagers hadn't chased them away. And four elephants died in a similar way three years ago. It is just so sad."

She then allegedly, and we can't help feeling immortally, added: "The elephants get drunk all the time. It is becoming really dangerous. We need to stop making alcohol available to them."

We'll leave it to readers to comment on exactly who should be deprived of alcohol on safety grounds, but we should note that Ms Hilton's comments have genuinely been welcomed by conservationists. Sangeeta Goswami, head of People for Animals, endorsed: "I am indeed happy Hilton has taken note of recent incidents of wild elephants in north-east India going berserk after drinking homemade rice beer and getting killed."

He added: "As part of her global elephant campaign, Hilton should, in fact, think of visiting this region literally infested with elephants."

We have no doubt this invitation will cause Hilton a certain amount of soul-searching, while she considers whether to clear her diary for a Rwandan war orphan mercy dash, or a lightning trip to Meghalaya armed with a really big breathalyser. ®

Related stories

Oz teen elephant pregnancy sparks protests (14 February 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/14/teen_elephant_pregnancy/
Alcoholic rats' boozing slashed by mutant superpower drug (4 January 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/04/alcohol_rat_mutant_gene_therapy/
Beer makes people have sex with you (4 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/04/drinky_equals_jigjig_say_us_profs/
Robo-mixologist expo opens in Vienna (22 November 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/22/roboexotica_cyber_punk_art_robot_cocktail_drinks_droids/
Drunken Indian elephants take on electricity pole (23 October 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/drunken_elephants/
Loch Ness monster actually circus elephant (7 March 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/07/nessie_claim/