Overview

• Plai Biang Lek, a 23-year-old bull from Khao Yai National Park, strolled into a convenience store in Pak Chong at around 3pm on June 2, causing staff and customers to flee.
• He helped himself to crispy rice crackers, chicken eggs and other snack items before departing on his own.
• No one was injured and the store owner reported about 1,000 baht in damages.
• The elephant has repeatedly ventured into human settlements since a 2023 restaurant raid, signaling a growing pattern of wildlife-human encounters.
• Conservationists warn that dwindling natural food resources are pushing up to 3,500 wild elephants in Thailand to forage in villages, escalating conflict risks.