World

Swiss call in army to save sizzling cattle

/ AP

BERLIN -- Cows sizzling under Switzerland's summer sun are getting help from an unexpected ally: the Swiss army.

Soldiers have been ordered to help keep cows in the far west of the country cool amid a weeklong heat wave. Army spokesman Urs Mueller says troops are erecting eight artificial reservoirs in the Jura mountains to supply cows with drinking water.

Mueller said Tuesday that Super Puma helicopters will scoop water out of nearby lakes and fly it up to pastures.

The army last took on similar missions during the 2003 European heat wave that killed thousands of people.

First published on July 21, 2015 / 7:42 AM EDT

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