Khao Yai National Park elephants attacking car

Several encounters between elephants and motorists have been reported recently in the park in Thailand; park officials urge caution

January 13, 2015 by David Strege

Elephants are attacking vehicles in Khao Yai National Park in Thailand. Photo is a screen grab from the video

Elephants are attacking vehicles in Khao Yai National Park in Thailand. Photo is a screen grab from the video

A local tourist driving through Khao Yai National Park in Thailand came upon a frightening scene on the road ahead: An elephant stomping on the hood of a car and then doing a dance number on the bumper.

The Telegraph reported that Yuthida Phachirat and a friend were using a road that cut through the forest when they happened upon the scene, some of which they captured on video:

The following raw video from the CBC News might show the same elephant crushing the hood earlier. It also shows other elephants in attack mode:

Several encounters between elephants and motorists have been reported recently in Kaho Yai National Park, leading one expert to suggest that the tourist route should be changed for the visitors’ own safety, according to a Tuesday report in the Bangkok Post.

Mattana Sri-krajang of the wildlife division of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation told the Post that the wild elephants have been disturbed by the increasing number of vehicles over the past decade.

There have been three elephant encounters with vehicles at Khao Yai National Park in Thailand. Photo is from the video

There have been three elephant encounters with vehicles at Khao Yai National Park in Thailand. Photo is from the video

The Bankok News reported that there have been four elephant attacks since New Year’s with the first three involving tourists’ vehicles. The other was an attack on a restaurant and shop in the park. Nobody was injured.

The Khao Yai National Park chief Kanchit Srinoppawan told the RTÉ News that the aggressive behavior is a result of mating season.

He suggested that tourists avoid turning off their cars, honking horns and flashing headlights while confronting the elephants. He also discouraged using flash photography.

The park also warned visitors of the obvious: be careful of the pachyderms.