Christmas Cheer to Help Apes Beat the Cold December 7, 2001 11:15 am EST

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - It may be a warm and tipsy winter for dozens of monkeys and apes in a northern Indian zoo as the thermometer slides toward freezing over the next couple of months.

Authorities in the city of Lucknow have decided to serve the 35 or so primates at the local zoo a daily dose of brandy to ensure they stay warm and happy, the Asian Age newspaper reported on Friday.

The drink will be mixed with warm water and served in special glasses, the daily said, adding the size of the shot would depend on the age, size and weight of the primate.

"Since apes and monkeys have a digestive system that is almost similar to that of human beings, they will have no problems digesting the drink," Lucknow Zoo director B. Prabhakar was quoted as saying.

The Asian Age said alcohol has been served to monkeys in the zoo in the past, but not every day.

Other animals at the zoo, however, will not be so lucky.

They will have to make do with a high protein, high calorie diet to stay warm through winter, when temperatures in northern India dip to near freezing during the peak months of December and January.

[at least they aren't going to be driving...]

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2001