Mar 11, 2026, 9:43 a.mMar 11, 2026, 9:43 a.m
A nighttime visit to a restaurant by a wild elephant has left traces of devastation near Thailand’s famous Khao Yai National Park.
The animal searched the Penlaos restaurant in Pak Chong district for food early in the morning around 4 a.m. (local time), local media reported.
The elephant initially searched, among other things, a fruit stand in the restaurant and severely damaged parts of the structure, including shelves and other facilities, wrote the Bangkok Post newspaper. Photos showed numerous pieces of debris scattered on the ground.
A foraging wild elephant damaged a Bib Gourmand-listed restaurant near Khao Yai National Park in Pak Chong district early Wednesday morning.
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Michelin-awarded restaurant
According to reports, the animal spends more time outside the boundaries of the national park. Local residents suspect the elephant may have “developed a taste for human food.”
The restaurant is located not far from Khao Yai National Park and serves dishes from the northeast of Thailand. It also has branches in Bangkok and was honored a few years ago by the Michelin Guide with the “Bib Gourmand” award for high-quality cuisine at moderate prices.
Human-animal conflicts are increasing
Khao Yai has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. The park is located about 120 kilometers northeast of Bangkok.
Just in February, a camper there was trampled to death by an aggressive bull elephant. The animals are suffering from the massive loss of their habitat in many parts of Asia. This is why human-animal conflicts are becoming more and more common. (nil/sda/dpa)