A 25-year-old male elephant named Plai Biang Lek, a frequent visitor to Thailand's Nakhon Ratchasima area, was caught in a grocery store in the country.
The elephant, who is known for eating sweets, used its trunk to get stuck and eat sweets instead of bananas, bamboo, and grasses, which are the preferred choice of wild elephants.
The shopkeeper, Khamploi Kakaew, tried to shoo the elephant away but it didn't listen.
The elephant had wandered from Khao Yai National Park, located less than a mile from the store.
Kakaew, said that the elephant walked right up to the candy counter near the freezer and used its trunk to gently push the freezer out of the way so it could fit inside.
The elephant ate about 10 bags of sweets worth 35 baht ($1) each, as well as dried bananas and peanut snacks.
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Wildlife officials were alerted to the incident and guided the elephant back into the woodland away from danger.
Authorities are monitoring the area to prevent the elephant from returning.
This was the first time an elephant had visited the store, and Kakaew expressed concern about the damage he could cause.
Another elephant was likely outside the store "probably waiting."
Thailand is home to a growing elephant population, with over 4,000 living naturally in conservation areas such as wildlife sanctuaries, non-hunting zones, national parks, and forest parks.
The surging elephant population has led to an increase in conflicts with human communities throughout the country, especially in the eastern forest regions, which are believed to be caused by the scarcity of food sources within protected areas.
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