The situation, already recorded by a security camera, occurred on Sunday, January 5 in the small Thai town of Khao Chakan in Sa Kaeo province. The footage shows a couple with an elephant, which entices people to pass under the animal for a fee.
When a woman collected money from a mother with three children, she went to help her by taking a two-year-old girl in her arms to carry her under the elephant. The mother with two other children was going to follow her.
But the elephant was startled, crouched down and made a quick movement forward. The reason was supposed to be the fact that the girl’s cap fell off her head during the maneuver and touched his front leg. In doing so, he knocked down the woman and the child and gave them another kick with his back leg.
The elephant took the cap
As a result, the incident was avoided without serious injuries, when the man on the elephant’s back was able to calm the animal down very quickly. The Bangkok Post website even reported that the elephant then took the girl’s hat and she then got it back.
According to the AP agency, the local police did not even deal with this case because there was no notification. In addition, in the police statement, walking under elephants is described as a common practice. It could not even be a criminal act, because the mother sent her daughter under the elephant voluntarily.
In Thailand, walking under elephants is a widespread tradition originating from Buddhism. It is supposed to bring good luck and those who pass under the elephant are considered brave. Many Thai parents perform this ritual with small children aged one to two years, added the AP agency.
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