National —
On August 14th, 2024, Thai national media reported a wild elephant overturned a tourist’s car at Khao Yai National Park, an event that quickly went viral after being posted on TikTok.
The incident took place on August 11th, when a group of elephants unexpectedly approached the accommodation area and one of them flipped the car, which was parked near a lodge, according to Thai national media.
The owner of the video clarified on August 13th that park rangers had initially warned of possible elephant activity but did not indicate that the area was a no-parking zone.
The car’s owner was inside the lodge and unaware of the unfolding situation. The rangers had monitored the area for nearly two hours before leaving, assuming the elephants would not come down, according to the video’s owner.
However, shortly after, around five elephants emerged, causing panic among the nearby tourists who were staying in the lodges. While the other elephants moved through the area, one approached the car, sniffed under, and eventually flipped it over. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, said the video’s owner.
Khao Yai National Park chief Chaiya Huaihongthong explained that the elephants were likely attracted by the smell of food from a group of tourists who had been cooking in an area where cooking is prohibited.
Chaiya emphasized that the park is the natural habitat of wild animals and urged visitors to strictly adhere to park regulations and follow ranger instructions to prevent such incidents in the future.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
