She said she had fed the elephant a banana and asked its owner if she could take a photo with it when the animal kicked her in front of many witnesses.

The elephant’s owner, Manop Noithanom, claimed the woman had stood too close to the elephant while taking the photo, provoking the animal.

Police charged Manop for letting the animal cause harm to persons or property – punishable by up to one month in jail and/or a Bt1,000 in fine – and for leading it to obstruct traffic on a highway.