This is the amusing moment a hungry wild elephant smelled dinner was cooking and wandered over to a grocery shop in search of a meal.

The male jumbo emerged from the forest and trudged over to the roadside stall in Nakhon Nayok province, Thailand on March 27.

It stopped in front of the food shop - just like he was a customer waiting for his order - while flapping his large ears and swaying his trunk.

After a few moments, the elephant rummaged through the boxes when he failed to find the source of the delicious omelette being rustled up inside by the owner.

Shopkeeper Kantapong said: 'I think the elephant followed the smell of the omelette I was cooking on a hot pan. I think he's very cute, it was like he was ordering food the same as a person does.'

The elephant walked away after a few minutes when he realised there was no food for him to eat.

Thailand has an estimated 2,000 Asian elephants living in the wild but there is often conflict when they come into contact with humans on roads and in villages. A similar number of elephants are kept captive where they work in zoos and are hired out for religious festivals and weddings.