This is the moment a hungry wild elephant stopped a pickup truck and stole pieces of food from the back.

The cheeky jumbo wandered onto the road at the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, Chachoengsao province, eastern Thailand, last Sunday (March 29).

It stomped towards a road block put in place to slow cars down and began raiding the back of a white pickup truck.

Footage, taken by one of the wildlife staff, shows how the jumbo, called Collar, managed to grab a shopping bag that was in the back of the truck.

It then stuffed several pieces of papaya into its mouth and walked off back towards the forest.

The park rangers joked that Collar the elephant just wanted to help the park staff checking all the cars.

They said: "All vehicles should be aware of what they have in the back when they're driving through areas where there are elephants.''

Footage of a similar situation taken last month showed an elder elephant appearing to teach a younger relative how to steal food from cars.

Park rangers believe the creatures, an estimated 2,000 that live in the wild, have evolved and learned how to steal food from vehicles when they are hungry.

Wildlife ranger Amnouy Artchula said: ''The elephants know very well how to stop the passing cars to get food, even if they are not given permission from the drivers.''