Wild elephant raids kitchen, devours rice in Chachoengsao

2026-03-20 - 10:41

CHACHOENGSAO — 19 March 2026, A wild elephant broke into a rural home in eastern Thailand overnight, rummaging through a kitchen and eating stored rice, officials said on Friday. The incident occurred late in Tha Takiab district, where local officials and rangers inspected damage at a house in Ban Khlong Mahat village. CCTV footage showed a large elephant quietly approaching the rear of the house before forcing its way through a wooden kitchen door. Once inside, it searched for food, opening cupboards and using its trunk to scoop rice from a storage jar. Homeowner Boonruen Sathuchat said she was startled when her dogs began barking at around 21:00. On checking, she saw the elephant attempting to break into the kitchen and quickly called local authorities for help. Wildlife volunteers and a rapid response team were deployed to the scene. By the time they arrived, the elephant had already entered the kitchen, scattering rice across the floor while feeding. It later retreated back into nearby forest after officials intervened. A second elephant seen approaching the house also turned back. No injuries were reported, though the incident left residents shaken. Local officials said monitoring teams have been deployed to the area and further measures are being taken to prevent similar incidents.