This is the scary moment a wild elephant broke into a house to steal food from the trash.

The hungry elephant named Nga-Tong was seen sticking its trunk through the window while reaching for leftover food in a garbage bin in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand on August 17 evening.

After sifting through the left-overs, the jumbo eventually walked out of the property as a park ranger who lived in the house tried to calm the animal down.

No one was reported hurt in the incident although Nga-Tong made a mess in the kitchen. He then walked back to the trail leading in the direction of the forest in the national park.

Khao Yai National park officer Ple Srichai said: ‘I was sleeping when I suddenly heard noises from the living room. I followed the sound and saw Nga-Tong trying to enter the kitchen.

‘I think he was trying to find food because he was reaching for the bin. Fortunately, he listened to me and walked back out.’

Elephants are the national animal of Thailand. An estimated 2,000 elephants are living in the wild and a similar number in captivity.

In the wild, they roam through the deep jungle and in the country’s protected national parks but often encounter humans on roads and in villages. However, they are protected by laws and killing them carries a maximum prison term of up to three years and a fine of 1,000 baht (25GBP).