Thai elephant raids grocery store & casually snacks on rice crackers

A wild elephant in Thailand raided a grocery store and snacked on rice crackers and eggs, leaving around 1,000 baht (S$40) in damages.

The Bangkok Post reported that on Jun. 2, an elephant had wandered from Khao Yai National Park, which was about one kilometre away from the store.

It appeared while the shop owner was serving a customer.

Photos and videos from social media showed that the elephant’s back brushed against the store’s ceiling as it munched on Nang Led, a sweet Thai rice cracker, and chicken eggs.

According to Khaosod English, the shop owner was startled and fled to safety, before immediately calling for the assistance of park rangers.

Though the park rangers attempted to push the elephant out, it continued to search for snacks.

As seen from surveillance camera footage, it appeared undeterred as it was shouted at to leave and continued to use its trunk to scoop snacks into its mouth.

The elephant finally retreated after a 10-minute-long raid when park rangers used what seems to be a slingshot to deter it.

Elephant in Khao Yai, Thailand, pops into the store for a snack. pic.twitter.com/RmgXCIGGmP

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The elephant reportedly wandered back into the forest with no injuries reported.

However, the store suffered damage to shelving and merchandise worth around 1,000 baht (S$40).

Known by locals as Plai Biang Lek, the elephant was often sighted around the national park and in nearby communities, though it had never attempted to walk into a grocery store before.

Park officials said that it had once raided a porridge vendor’s stall while wandering through the village, noting that it typically preferred salty snacks over sweet ones.

Top images via Kampá Tour/Facebook