A visit to Bandipur National Park in southern India took an unexpected turn for a couple when a hungry elephant reached into their car and made off with a handbag containing fruit, cash, bank cards, and even gold jewelry.
The bizarre incident unfolded when the tourists stopped to take photos of a mother elephant and her calf near the resort town of Ooty.
Wildlife photographer Austin Cherupuzha, who witnessed the encounter, explained that the elephant became agitated when the pair began snapping pictures.
As the couple fled to safety, leaving the car windows open, the elephant extended its trunk, grabbed the leather handbag, and swallowed it.
“It was a strange sight. The elephant took the bag from the car, devoured it, and then walked away,” Cherupuzha told the Bangalore Mirror. The woman later suggested the elephant was likely drawn to the fruit inside the bag.
Video footage revealed that the mother elephant had chains on her front legs, indicating she might be one of the park’s domesticated elephants.
Despite the lighthearted reactions from onlookers, experts raised serious concerns about the elephant’s well-being.
Dr. Arun A. Sha, a wildlife veterinarian at Bannerghatta National Park, warned that ingesting the handbag and its non-edible contents could harm the elephant’s internal organs and potentially lead to internal bleeding.
The incident occurred despite repeated warnings against stopping to take photos of wildlife in the park.
Guards routinely advise visitors to avoid stopping on the roadside, and signs are posted throughout the park. However, such warnings are often ignored.
In response, park authorities are now considering deploying patrol teams to enforce safety measures more strictly and deter tourists from engaging in risky behavior that endangers humans and animals.
This encounter highlights the importance of respecting wildlife and following park guidelines to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
