During a vacation in Sri Lanka, an Australian family experienced a terrifying encounter when a large elephant charged their van, breaking a window in its search for food.
The incident, captured on video, occurred in Yala National Park, where a female elephant named Nitra suddenly emerged from the bushes and headed directly for the van carrying Kasun Basnayake and his family.
In a desperate attempt to avoid the elephant, the driver tried to reverse the van. Despite his efforts, Nitra shattered the window with her tusk and then used her trunk to rummage through the vehicle for food with surprising accuracy.
Quick thinking saved the day as Kasun threw his child’s snacks out of the window to distract the elephant. As hoped, the hungry elephant shifted her attention from the van to the unexpected treat.
Seizing the opportunity, the driver quickly shifted into first gear and sped away, narrowly avoiding a collision as the elephant brushed against the side of the van.
Kasun, who hails from Perth, Western Australia, shared his account with the BBC, recalling a recent encounter with a curious koala.
The koala sniffed around their feet, looking for food, and upon the driver’s advice, Kasun shared his son’s untouched sandwich with the animal.
“He told me to throw the remaining food out of the window, and as soon as I did, the driver sped off. Those sandwiches and chips likely helped us get away safely,” Kasun said.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred on Monday along Culp Temple Road within Yala National Park.
The family was en route to the Situlpauwa temple, a popular tourist destination, when the elephant suddenly appeared and confronted them.
Culp Temple Road has become known for elephants surprising tourists and grabbing their snacks. Yala National Park, about 130,000 hectares, is home to various landscapes, including forests, grasslands, and scenic lagoons.
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