WATCH wild elephant visit Thai grocery store

The four-ton animal, known locally for raiding nearby settlements, was caught helping itself to snacks

A giant wild elephant from a national park in northeastern Thailand wandered off and strolled into a grocery store, knocking over shelves and sniffing boxes of rice crackers before leaving.

The daylight robbery went viral after the Thairath Online Facebook page posted a video on Monday afternoon showing the massive creature – reportedly known locally as Plai Biang Lek – shocking the convenience store owner in the Pak Chong district by invading the premises and helping itself to some snacks.

The store, which is around three hours northeast of Bangkok, is near Khao Yai National Park, where wild elephants are frequently seen leaving protected areas in search of food.

The publication said this is not Lek’s first mischievous act. Two years ago, he famously made off with a pot of congee, a type of rice porridge.

The 23-year-old male elephant entered the store while the owner was attending to a customer, the Bangkok Post reported, adding that the visit caused panic, forcing the shopkeeper and customer to run out and alert park officials.

Park rangers and the shop owner tried to make the animal leave by shouting and pleading with him, the media outlet noted, but the elephant was unfazed and continued probing with his trunk, searching the shelves for snacks. Ten minutes later, he left and wandered back into the jungle, causing no injuries to itself or bystanders.

According to the shop owner, as cited by the Bangkok Post, repairing the damaged shelves and replacing the lost goods will cost more than 1,000 baht (around $30).