Okay, it’s been a slow start to the year. It generally seems like not much happens around Asia between the western new year and Chinese New Year. The newspapers still have to fill up their pages, so it was with some amusement that I read in today’s Bangkok Post about an elephant problem in one of the provinces bordering Bangkok. The problem is actually rather serious, but it’s still an amusing image. The first few paragraphs of the story follow:

Elephants stop, loot trucks on dark road
by MANIT SNUBBOON

Chachoengsao - The chief of Khao Ang Rue Nai wants the road through the wildlife sanctuary closed at night after a herd of elephants held up and looted a string of cargo trucks. About midnight last Saturday a herd of 20 elephants blocked route No.3259 (the Ban Nong Kog-Ban Wang Nam Phon road) holding up 10 trucks, Yoo Senatham said.

They tipped some vehicles on their side, spilling the cargoes on the road so their young could eat, and gorged on sugarcane and tapioca.

The full story can be found at the Bangkok Post web site.