Zoos are popular attractions for families and tourists looking to observe wildlife up close, but sometimes interactions between animals and visitors can take an unexpected turn.
A recent incident at the Melaka Zoo caught the attention of social media users after a viral video showcased an elephant snatching and crushing a visitor’s phone, leaving onlookers in shock.
The video, posted by TikTok user @ainsebbie, captured the moment the elephant grabbed her brother’s phone with its trunk and crushed it, before repeatedly gesturing to visitors as though asking for food.
A loud “crack” can be heard when the device is crushed and the owner can only exclaim in shock as the phone is destroyed.
@ainsebbie RIP to abam's henfon 😆 #zoomelaka #gajah ♬ Ayam Piyik – Mazaya Amania
After breaking the phone, the elephant tossed it to the ground, its trunk continuing to reach out toward visitors as though begging for food.
In a follow-up post, the visitor explained that the incident happened so quickly that she had no time to alert the zookeepers.
When they finally received the device from the zookeeper after a while, the screen was shattered beyond repair.
@ainsebbie Replying to @Nur penjaga ada, tapi dah terlambat sis 😆 kejadian berlaku terlalu laju #zoomelaka #gajah ♬ Dari planet lain – Sal Priadi
Speaking to WeirdKaya, Ain said that she only noticed when the phone was already on the ground.
“It was all an accident, the elephant snatched it from my nephew’s hand in the blink of an eye thinking it was food.”
According to Ain’s brother, their nephew placed the phone on the fence while feeding the elephants.
Unfortunately, one of the elephants accidentally knocked it off the fence, causing it to fall into the elephant enclosure.
The video has since gone viral, sparking a heated discussion online. Some netizens believe the elephant mistook the phone for food, discarding it after realizing it wasn’t edible.
Others speculate that the animal was angered by visitors constantly taking photos and lashed out by snatching and breaking the phone.
The incident has left many amused, while some called for better management to avoid similar situations in the future.
Some netizens joked around saying maybe the elephant brand glue could save the phone.
“Elephant: Later, stop by a shop and buy some elephant brand glue… glue it back nicely, and it should be fine.”
***Special thanks to Ain for sharing the story.
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