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A hungry wild elephant named Plai Biang Lek caused a stir in Thailand on Monday (June 2) when he wandered into a grocery store near Khao Yai National Park. The elephant, who is around 30 years old, is well-known in the area for seeking food in unusual places.
Plai Biang Lek entered the store calmly, helping himself to snacks like sweet rice crackers, a sandwich, and dried bananas. The shop owner, Kamploy Kakaew, was amused by the incident and noted that the elephant left without causing harm, leaving only mud tracks behind.
Danai Sookkanthachat, a volunteer park worker, explained that while it is common for elephants in the area to raid kitchens, this was the first time he witnessed one entering a grocery store. After his snack run, Plai Biang Lek reportedly opened a bedroom window of a nearby house.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation estimates there were about 4,000 wild elephants in Thailand in 2024. As their habitats shrink due to agricultural expansion, elephants increasingly venture into human settlements, sometimes leading to dangerous encounters.