Socialite becomes unlikely icon for conservationists

SOCIALITE and former drink-driving jailbird Paris Hilton has become an unlikely icon for conservationists trying to highlight the plight of binge-drinking elephants in north-eastern India.

Ms Hilton made what appeared to be a few throwaway comments after hearing how six wild elephants that broke into a farm in the state of Meghalaya were electrocuted after drinking supplies of home-made rice beer then uprooting an electricity pole.

“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,” Ms Hilton said last week.