This is the moment an escaped elephant crushed a car after climbing on it during mating season in a Thai national park.
The silver car carrying a family was traveling through Khao Yai National Park near Bangkok to a nearby National Children’s Day celebration.
However, the car driver was forced to stop when the male elephant wandered out into the middle of the road and approached the car.
The footage was taken with a mobile phone from inside the vehicle, showing the animal getting very close to the vehicle before placing the trunk on the bonnet.
The elephant could be seen putting its front legs on top of the bonnet before bringing its hind legs up and almost sitting on top of the car.
The giant creature then jumped off the vehicle to the ground and walked away, leaving the bonnet badly dented and a cracked windshield.
Fortunately, the family inside the car was unharmed.
It is the second incident this month involving an elephant in the park after another elephant damaged three other cars on New Year’s Day.
It is unclear whether the same elephant was involved in both incidents.
Patarapol Maneeorn, a government veterinarian, said that elephants don’t usually come close to cars, but this particular creature can be stressed due to mating season.
He said: ‘During mating season, the elephant may have developed some stress. Transportation may have added to the stress. ‘
Male elephants are often forced out of the herd when they reach reproductive age to not mate with blood relatives.
This is thought to be why the elephant escaped and those driving through the park were told to be extra vigilant.
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