First it was an isolated case, then more examples became known and now it has become an expanding phenomenon in various areas of Thailand, as shown by various videos from residents and tourists. Even National Geographic has dedicated part of one of its reports in the Elephant Secrets series to this curious behavior.
La Vanguardia Natural reported, in 2017, one of the first cases that were disseminated internationally about the behavior of wild Asian elephants that wait next to the road for an agricultural cargo truck to pass by to stop it, expressly crossing in front of the vehicle, and then steals a small part of the cargo to feed itself. In this case, it was apparently a shipment of potatoes.
Now, the most successful images on social networks are those of elephants, in Thailand but also in Cambodia, stopping trucks loaded with sugar cane. The ability of some of these specimens seems to be creating a school, although there is no evidence (yet) of any scientific study that explains details and confirms the cultural learning of this type of diet.
The images shared on the internet are sometimes difficult to date and locate, but everything seems to indicate that the video corresponds to the action of a young specimen of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), a resident of the province of Chachoengsao, on February 21.
The affected driver, Wannahat Ruengdist, explained that the elephant seemed to be hungry and knew the road perfectly, the types of vehicles that can carry food and how to force them to stop in the middle of the road.
Human infrastructure and activities, including the expansion of protected farming areas with fencing and electrification, are making life difficult for elephants in their natural habitats in countries such as Thailand. In some areas, coexistence between wild animals and farmers is not easy, mainly due to the limitation of spaces in which elephants can find food in a traditional way.
In some natural areas, the roads have special signs that warn of the presence of these animals, but they are not prevented from crossing or remaining on the roads normally. In cases like those shown in the video, elephants demonstrate their intelligence by staying off the road, lying in wait, until they see some appetizing transport coming. In this case, the elephant only has to take a few steps to force the truck to stop. The most respectful drivers recognize the elephants and allow them to take a small part of the load before reprimanding them.
