In the tranquil woodlands of Prachinburi province, Thailand, on July 1, 2024, a cheeky baby elephant became the star of an unforgettable moment, leaving drivers holding their breath and chuckling in disbelief. The young jumbo sparked panic when it unexpectedly emerged from the woods and strutted onto a narrow, winding road, causing a sudden traffic standstill.
As the massive creature wandered toward the vehicles, drivers scrambled to reverse, but there was nowhere to go. Namfhon Saowalak and her husband, in their red Toyota, found themselves at the mercy of this inquisitive young elephant. With no way to escape, they sat, holding their breath, hoping the animal would pass without incident.
But the baby elephant, clearly in no rush, had other plans. Instead of simply walking past, the young elephant approached their car with unusual interest. It kicked the bumper with a casual nudge, as if checking to see if it was still intact. Then, in a moment that left everyone stunned, the elephant decided to get a bit more… comfortable.
In a scene straight out of a comedy show, the baby elephant plopped its sizable derriere on the Toyota’s bonnet, giving the car a good rub. It wiggled from side to side, seemingly trying to scratch an itch, leaving Namfhon and her husband in a state of utter disbelief.
"My soul almost left my body; I was so scared," Namfhon recalled. "I never thought something like this would happen to us. I couldn't stop myself from screaming."
Despite the overwhelming panic, there was a certain absurdity to the situation. The elephant, blissfully unaware of the traffic chaos it was causing, continued its bottom-rubbing ritual as though it were a normal day in the life of an elephant. Namfhon admitted, “I was so scared, I wanted to cry. I apologize for my crying in the video—it was annoying. I was so relieved when the elephant left.”
Eventually, the baby elephant, satisfied with its impromptu car massage, shuffled back into the forest, allowing the traffic jam to ease. Namfhon and her husband were finally able to drive away, their hearts still racing but relieved that the unusual encounter had ended without harm.
Thailand is home to around 3,500 elephants in the wild, with the population increasing in recent years. However, as urbanization continues to encroach on their habitats, conflicts between humans and elephants are becoming more common. Conservationists have observed that elephants, so familiar with human presence, have lost many of their natural inhibitions. In this case, it seemed the baby elephant had no qualms about making itself at home on top of a car.
Though the situation was tense at first, it’s hard not to find humor in the bizarre nature of it all. After all, how often does a traffic jam turn into an impromptu elephant spa day?
Watch the video: