Khao Yai National Park has a no cooking rule for a reason.
A hungry elephant attracted by the smell of BBQ flipped over a family’s vehicle in an act of karma after they broke the campsite cooking rules.
The family was visiting a resort in the Khao Yai forest in northeast Thailand when they cooked a barbecue meal on August 11 – ignoring the advice of wildlife rangers.
A herd of elephants smelled the chicken and pork meat being grilled and wandered out of the woodland and into the nearby car park.
Footage shows three elephants and two calves stomping around the campsite looking for food, before one female seemingly grew frustrated and attacked the family’s black Honda by kicking it with her front foot.
The elephant then used her giant trunk to roll the sedan onto its side and finally to flip its roof.
With no food appearing the herd trudged off back towards the woodland.
No one was injured but the car was severely damaged and had to be towed to a garage for repairs.
Chaiya Huayhongthong, chief of Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima province, said wildlife rangers were alerted to the incident and ushered the elephants deeper into the jungle to avoid further clashes with humans.
There are an estimated 3,500 wild elephants in Thailand and encounters with humans have increased in recent years.