Villagers in India Knit Giant Sweaters for Rescued Elephants

A wildlife sanctuary in northern India is now home to a number of stylish—and snug—elephants. As The Independent reports, village women in Uttar Pradesh knitted giant sweaters for the tusked residents of the Elephant Conservation and Care Center, in the nearby city of Mathura, to keep them warm in sub-zero temperatures.

The Elephant Conservation and Care Center is a haven for rescued elephants, run by wildlife nonprofit Wildlife SOS. Currently, the center shelters 20 animals that were neglected and abused by their prior handlers. The elephants aren't in great physical shape, so it's vital to keep them warm when it's cold out, officials say.

“It is important to keep our elephants protected from the bitter cold during this extreme winter, as they are weak and vulnerable having suffered so much abuse making them susceptible to ailments such as pneumonia," Wildlife SOS co-founder and chairman Kartick Satyanarayan told The Times of India.

"The cold also aggravates their arthritis which is a common issue that our rescued elephants have to deal with."

Wildlife SOS plans to expand the conservation center’s facilities in 2017 and rescue an additional 50 elephants. Hopefully, temperatures will have warmed up by then—but if not, locals can break out the yarn and knit for a cause.

Check out the elephants’ sweater-weather style in the video below, courtesy of The Better India.

[h/t The Independent]