WATCH: Elephant wanders through Sri Lankan hotel

WATCH: Elephant wanders through Sri Lankan hotel

A Sri Lankan hotel has delighted the internet after a video of an unusual guest went viral.

The footage captured a wild elephant wandering around the Jetwing Yala hotel in the south-east of Sri Lanka, gently inspecting things with his trunk and accidentally knocking over a lamp.

The video appears to originate from Twitter user Upuli (@upidaisy) who said she woke up to a text from her mom about the incident.

According to BBC News, it’s not unusual for hotels in the area to have an unexpected visitor like this, in fact, the hotel said the elephant, known as Natta Kota, or short tail, has been a loyal guest since 2013.

“In the initial years, Natta Kota was a seasonal visitor, appearing for a few months of the year before disappearing once more into the bush. During this period, he paid frequent visits to other resorts along the beach stretch as well,” a Jetwing spokesperson told BBC News.

“A few years ago, he took up permanent residence at Jetwing where he is allowed to be at peace. Natta Kota spends his days sleeping in the shade of the scrubs and taking walks along the hotel’s footpaths.”

The spokesperson said that while he is a welcome guest, he’s also known for stealing fruit and supplies from the hotel kitchen, prompting the hotel to warn guests to keep an eye on their food.

Featured image: iStock.com/SolStock

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