A wild elephant nicknamed ‘Fatty’ has been causing chaos in Chachoengsao province, Thailand, by stopping passing trucks to steal sugarcane. The 35-year-old jumbo has been emerging from the forest onto roads and forcing vehicles to slow down so he can reach up to the sweet-smelling cargo in their trailers.
Footage shows the bull gorging on the sugarcane, which is freshly harvested from nearby fields before arriving at factories to make sugar. Some truck drivers even had to swerve into the opposite lane to avoid being raided by the powerful beast.
This greedy elephant has become famous in the area due to his love for sugarcane, and locals have nicknamed him ‘Fatty’ because of how much he eats. Although he is a wild elephant, he comes out of the woods every year in this area to wait for sugarcane trucks. According to onlooker Au Wanapin, there are many elephants in the area who have honed the habit of stealing fresh food from passing vehicles.
Wildlife officials believe that elephants have targeted homes and trucks for their tastier food over what they can forage for in the jungle, and that smart wild elephants have learned to steal fresh food from vehicles. Despite the chaos that ‘Fatty’ has caused, it is important to remember that elephants are protected animals in Thailand. Killing them carries a maximum prison term of up to three years and a fine of 1,000 baht (25GBP).
Thailand is home to an estimated 2,000 Asian elephants living in the wild, where they wander freely among protected forests. Unlike African elephants, male Asian elephants roam alone once they are over 10 years old while females remain with the herd.
While the sight of ‘Fatty’ stealing sugarcane from passing trucks may seem entertaining, it is important to remember that these animals are wild and should be treated with respect. It is crucial that we work to protect these magnificent creatures and their natural habitats so that they can continue to thrive in the wild.
Please LIKE and SHARE this story to your friends and family!