A new viral Instagram video has taken the internet by storm, and netizens are delighted. The video shows a giant elephant casually strolling inside a grocery store in Thailand’s Khao Yai region. From what we can see, the elephant navigates the shelves casually, looking for snacks to eat. Keep reading to know more about this shoplifting elephant of Thailand.
Elephant Goes Grocery Shopping In Thailand
View this post on Instagram
In this video shared by @bangkokcommunityhelp on Instagram, we see a massive elephant casually navigating the shelves in a grocery store, looking for snacks. The video, with the caption “An elephant casually walked into a convenience store in Khao Yai — just another day in Thailand! On its way out, the hungry visitor even grabbed some rice crackers for the road”, has now garnered over 2.6 million views and more than a thousand comments from netizens.
Also Read: 6 Wildlife Sanctuaries In India To Spot Elephants In Their Natural Habitat | Curly Tales
As per The Independent, the elephant, known as Plai Biank Lek, lives in the adjacent Khao Yai National Park. This huge yet adorable male tusker ate around nine bags of sweet rice crackers, a sandwich, and some bananas. And what’s more? He left calmly without paying the bill.
Netizens React To The Adorable Shoplifter’s Antics
The video, which reportedly went viral, received many comments from users, like, “Are we just gonna ignore the elephant in the room?” while another wrote, “He was going on a trip, had his trunk packed, and just needed snacks.” The comments turned more funny as we scrolled down. One user commented, “Man, I thought something like that I’d only see in a cartoon.” On the other hand, a user also commented, “He’s like, well this used to be my forest and y’all built a town here but I ain’t leaving”, which made us pause and think. While the video is amusing, it also made us reflect on the rapid urbanisation which is stealing away the homes of these animals.
Also Read: Thailand: Viral Video Of Monkey Handling Traffic Stuns Netizens, PETA Raises Wildlife Concerns
Danai Sookkhanthachat, a local ranger, stated that this particular elephant is known for similar antics, as per The Independent. He has even entered people’s homes in search of food. But this is the first time he’s set his big foot in a store. Luckily, the elephant caused no damage apart from leaving some shelves untidy and walking away without paying.
This incident has surely made the day of animal lovers around the world. No matter how big he is, his innocent eyes and the way he navigates the shelves have stolen our hearts.
Cover Image Courtesy: bangkokcommunityhelp/ Instagram
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE. First Published: June 05, 2025 12:06 PM