Two elephants have been saved from the deadly Siberian cold by drinking vodka, BBC reports.

The animals had to be taken out into the bitter cold after the wooden trailer they were travelling in caught fire in the Novosibirsk region.

The elephants, aged 45 and 48, suffered frostbite to the tips of their ears amid temperatures of -40C.

But they were warmed up by two cases of vodka mixed with warm water.

The animals continued their recovery in a heated garage of a local college where they were brought by a truck under police escort.

The elephants belong to a Polish circus, which has been touring the region.

Like with humans, alcohol can make animals feel warmer but it actually lowers their core body temperature, scientists say.