In the bustling town of Chachoengsao, Thailand, where the motorways hummed with the constant rhythm of lorries and cars, an unexpected event unfolded, creating a massive traffic jam that would be remembered for years to come. The cause of the disruption? None other than a colossal elephant that decided to interrupt the flow of vehicles to satisfy its cravings for a snack of sugar cane.
The disruption began when the giant male elephant casually meandered onto the busy motorway, bringing the usual flow of lorries to a grinding halt. Using its trunk with precision, the massive creature explored passing lorries in search of the freshly collected crop. For two hours, the elephant became the center of attention, intercepting a total of 12 vehicles before eventually deciding to retreat to the jungle around 5 pm on a Sunday evening.
Spectators like Arnie Banpho could only watch in awe as the sheer size of the elephant deterred anyone from attempting to approach and guide it back into the trees. Cars cautiously navigated past the giant creature, forming long queues as motorists patiently waited for the unusual roadblock to clear.
Kovit Boonphanuk, the Head of Wild Elephant Care at the Khao Ang Rue Nai mountains, shed light on the situation, explaining that the elephants in the region were known for their gentle nature and posed no threat to individuals. In this particular incident, the elephant was simply in search of food, causing a standstill among several vehicles.
Boonphanuk emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe distance when encountering elephants from vehicles, urging people to refrain from using car horns or shouting. Allowing the elephants to go about their activities undisturbed is crucial, as any interference might provoke them. With a reminder that elephants often travel in herds, Boonphanuk cautioned that there could be others in close proximity.
As the colossal creature indulged in its impromptu feast, it wasn’t alone. Other elephants swiftly joined the scene, extending their trunks to autonomously extract sugar cane from a nearby driver’s crops. Onlookers from other vehicles observed in astonishment as the five-ton mammals skillfully wrestled with the extraction process, seizing a few more canes to carry along as on-the-go snacks, even as the traffic lights transitioned to green.
Thailand, home to an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 elephants, showcases a unique coexistence between humans and these magnificent creatures. Approximately half of them reside in the wild within national parks, while the remainder are domesticated. The unexpected highway feast served as a reminder of the importance of respecting the natural behaviors of these gentle giants and finding ways to peacefully coexist on the roads of Chachoengsao.