Wondering elephant visits Thai grocery shop

(MENAFN) A wild elephant from a national park in northeastern Thailand caused a stir when it wandered into a local grocery store, rummaging through shelves and investigating snack boxes before casually exiting. The incident took place in the Pak Chong district near Khao Yai National Park and was captured on video, quickly going viral after being shared by Thairath Online on Facebook.

The elephant, known locally as Plai Biang Lek, is no stranger to the area—or to mischief. Two years ago, he made headlines for stealing a pot of congee, a traditional rice porridge.

This time, the 23-year-old male entered the store while the owner was helping a customer. The unexpected visit sparked panic, prompting both the owner and customer to flee and contact park authorities. Despite attempts by rangers and the shopkeeper to drive him away by yelling, the elephant seemed undeterred, using his trunk to inspect shelves and snack items for about ten minutes before wandering back into the forest.

Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident. However, the shop owner told the Bangkok Post that repairing the damage and restocking the lost goods would cost over 1,000 baht (approximately $30). Encounters like this are not uncommon in the area, as elephants often leave the nearby park in search of food.

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