A hungry elephant strolled into a grocery store and shocked shoppers: “I think he just wanted snacks”
Shopkeepers at a store in Thailand received a surprise visitor with a big trunk and a sweet tooth.
Imagine the scene - you step out to your local grocery store to buy a some candy, only to find an elephant has beaten you to the last pack on the shelf.
It’s unlikely to happen in too many places across the globe, although Thailand is an exception.
Wild elephant goes shopping in Thailand
Earlier this week, shopkeepers at a store in Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast of the capital Bangkok, had to deal with an unusual client, namely a wild elephant that had trampled its way in to look for food.
Not that they were caught completely by surprise. The store located close to the Khao Yai National Park, which is thought to be home to between 150 and 200 wild elephants.
A hungry elephant caused havoc in a grocery store in Thailand, when he strolled in from a nearby park and helped himself to the produce on the shelves on Monday.
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 4, 2025
It calmly chomped down about nine bags of sweet rice crackers, a sandwich and bananas, the store owner said. pic.twitter.com/6CHEpT3PHx
“We usually see it pass by, and watch from inside the house. But it never came into the shop before or hurt anyone,” said shop owner Khamploi Kakaew, speaking to CNN.
“Business 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. But it didn’t listen. It was like it came on purpose.”
What foods do elephants eat?
Khamploi explained that the elephant, a 27-year-old male called Plai Biang Lek who is well known in the area, stayed for approximately 10 minutes and was most interested in picking and eating candy. Bananas, bamboo and grass are most typically part of an elephant’s diet.
A second elephant waited outside for Plai Biang Lek, who was eventually guided away by park rangers.
“He’s around here often but never hurts anyone. I think he just wanted snacks,” hypothesized Khamploi.
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