United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Let’s talk about the elephant in the (hotel) room
A video of a wild elephant wandering through a hotel in Sri Lanka has gone viral on social media.
The elephant, called Natta Kota (meaning short tail) is often seen at the Jetwing Yala Hotel on the island’s south east coast, where he lives in the grounds.
He occasionally goes inside the hotel, poking at objects with his trunk.
A video of one of his visits was posted on Twitter by @upidaisy yesterday. She wrote: "Woke up to a text from my mom about how a wild elephant went into a Sri Lankan hotel and gently wandered around while poking stuff with his trunk."
It is not clear exactly when the footage was taken. Around five months ago, the Jetwing Yala uploaded another video showing the elephant in the hotel.
The hotel itself has previously posted a video of Natta Kota in the hotel. It said: "Please note that though he is a regular visitor to our hotels, Natta Kota is still very much a wild elephant and we at Jetwing would have him remain as such.
"While it is exciting and memorable to encounter wild animals in and around our hotels, we humbly request that guests respect their space and maintain a healthy distance at all times. Please avoid feeding the animals and refrain from using flash photography."
The hotel is in scrubland where many wild animals live. They have not fenced off the complex, so animals are regular visitors to the grounds where guests can see them.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Exploring Brooklands Museum with Alex Patterson
Global Tourism Challenges and Upcoming Events: A Conversation with Don Welsh
Peebles Barbeque: A Legacy of Flavor and Tradition
Exploring Bok Tower Gardens with Erica Smith
Rue’s Living Water Boat Cruises: Exploring Winter Haven’s Chain of Lakes
Durango and Silverton Railroad: A Timeless Journey Through History and Scenic Beauty
Walt Leger on New Orleans’ Resilience and Major Events Ahead
Cindy Mackin Shares Estes Park’s Winter Thrills
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
Qatar Airways adding Manchester flights
EU entry-exit system delayed again
ATC strike in Greece could disrupt flights this week
Jet2 unveils Samos as new Greek destination for summer 2026
Icelandair launches inaugural flight to Nashville