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Elephants are incredibly intelligent animals. As human settlements expand and encroach on their natural habitat, these clever creatures are using their impressive ingenuity to adapt. In the video above, a hungry elephant cleverly snags a sweet sugar cane treat while casually crossing the street.
Where Elephants Live in the Wild

Asian elephants can use tools and demonstrate grief and compassion.
©iStock.com/goodze
The above video highlights an Indian elephant, a subspecies of the Asian elephant. Approximately 15% of the world’s wild Indian elephants live in Thailand. Around half of Thailand’s elephants reside in protected areas within the country.
A Short History of Elephants and Humans in Thailand

War elephants have been utilized in Thailand since at least the 13th century.
©Maximillian cabinet/Shutterstock.com
The relationship between humans and elephants in Thailand is complicated. Elephants have long been considered sacred in Thai culture, particularly among the Buddhist population. They are also the official national animal of Thailand. Despite this revered status, however, these animals have also been exploited for centuries for labor and warfare in that country.
Today, the treatment of elephants there varies greatly. In some areas, elephant camps continue to train these animals for tourism, offering rides and entertainment. However, there are also many protected areas where wild elephants can roam freely.
Coexisting with Elephants

In Thailand, people often give sugarcane to elephants as a sweet treat.
©iStock.com/Alisha Bube
As human settlements expand throughout Asia, encounters between elephants and humans are becoming more frequent. Sadly, these interactions can often end in tragedy. Between 2012 and 2018, for example, over 100 elephants or humans were injured during such encounters. Farmers also use electric fences to protect their crops, leading to numerous elephant deaths in recent years.
While many human-elephant encounters result in conflict, others have found ways to peacefully coexist. In some areas, farmers and truck drivers pay an “elephant tax” to the creatures, much like the exchange seen in the video above, which helps discourage elephants from raiding farms. In addition, when an elephant crosses a road, drivers are instructed to stop and remain quiet until the animal moves away, reducing the risk of harm to both parties.
Even Elephants Have a Sweet Tooth

Elephants are grazers and enjoy variety.
©SOMMAI/Shutterstock.com
Sugar doesn’t typically feature greatly in an elephant’s diet. Much like humans, however, elephants enjoy snacking on sweet treats like sugar cane.
Elephants are herbivores and eat things like bananas and fruits, tree bark, leaves, and bamboo. Their enormous size also comes with an enormous appetite. A single elephant can eat 220 to 440 pounds of food each day and often spends 18 hours a day foraging and eating!
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