Caught on camera: Elephant helps itself to some snacks at convenience store in Thailand
An elephant never forgets 鈥� where the snacks are stored.
A large wild elephant caught shopkeepers off guard at a convenience store in Thailand on Monday, when it lumbered into the shop in search of food.
The hungry mammal can be seen on CCTV footage entering the store and helping itself to snacks.
鈥淏usiness was a bit slow that day. Around 2 p.m., the elephant just walked right up. I came out and tried to shoo it away. I told it not to come closer,鈥� shop owner Khamploi Kakaew told CNN.
鈥淚 told it, 鈥楪o away, go on,鈥� but it didn鈥檛 listen. It was like it came on purpose.鈥�
See the video in the player above
The store, in Thailand鈥檚 Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast of the capital Bangkok, is near the Khao Yai National Park, so elephants are often nearby.
鈥淲e usually see it pass by, and watch from inside the house. But it never came into the shop before or hurt anyone,鈥� she said.
The elephant 鈥� a 27-year-old male called Plai Biang Lek 鈥� is well known in the area.
Khamploi said it stayed in the store for about 10 minutes, picking and eating. While wild elephants usually prefer bananas, bamboo and grasses, Biang Lek went straight for the sweets.
鈥淚t walked up to the counter 鈥� the candy counter near the freezer. It used its trunk to gently push the freezer out of the way so it could fit inside,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t went straight to the snacks, picked through them with its trunk. It ate about 10 bags of sweets 鈥� they鈥檙e 35 baht ($1) each. It also ate dried bananas and peanut snacks.鈥�
Another elephant remained outside the store, 鈥減robably waiting,鈥� Khamploi said.
Park rangers were called and were eventually able to guide the elephant away, after much coaxing and shooing.
鈥淗e鈥檚 around here often but never hurts anyone. I think he just wanted snacks,鈥� said Khamploi.
Following the unexpected visit, a wildlife protection group stopped by and offered Khamploi 800 baht for the stolen goods.
鈥淭hey said they were 鈥榮ponsoring the elephant鈥檚 snack bill鈥� 鈥� it was kind of funny,鈥� she said.
Dwindling population
Elephants, Thailand鈥檚 national animal, have seen their wild population decline in recent decades due to threats from tourism, logging, poaching and human encroachment on their habitats.
Experts estimate the wild elephant population in Thailand has dwindled to 3,000-4,000, from more than 100,000 at the beginning of the 20th century.
A group of local volunteers in Khao Yai are working to keep the park鈥檚 elephants away from residential areas.
鈥淭he elephants鈥� behavior has changed from looking for food at people鈥檚 orchards or farms, to frequently visiting humans鈥� houses,鈥� Thanongsak Changin, 44, a resident and volunteer, told CNN.
The elephant Biang Lek had 鈥渞aided鈥� several other places before Monday鈥檚 incident, Thanongsak said, even injuring the tip of its trunk after breaking a glass cupboard in a local home.
鈥淗e is now living in a village, which is unusual for a wild elephant. It is like they don鈥檛 want to return to the mountain. It is easier for them to just stay among the houses,鈥� he said.
Human and elephant encounters are common and can turn violent, Thanongsak said. There have been instances of elephants destroying cars.
Khao Yai National Park is home to an estimated 140-200 wild Asian elephants, and Thanongsak said his group is trying to keep the area safe for both elephants and humans.
