Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

White Rock Man's Elephant Selfie (or 'Elphie') In Thailand Garners Worldwide Attention

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 May, 2015 01:44 PM
    VANCOUVER — A British Columbia man got the vacation photo of a lifetime in Thailand — and he can't even take credit for it.
     
    Christian LeBlanc was feeding an elephant when the animal grabbed his GoPro camera, set to continuous shooting, and snapped a photo with its trunk.
     
    The snapshot, which LeBlanc is calling the world's first elephant selfie — or "elphie" — has gone viral after the 22-year-old recently posted it on Instagram.
     
    The University of British Columbia student and his girlfriend were travelling on the island of Koh Phangan two months ago with when they came across a couple of elephants.
     
    LeBlanc says baskets of bananas were being sold for 50 cents to feed the pachyderms, but the elephant quickly became touchy when they ran out of food.
     
    He says he was in shock when the animal grabbed his camera and snapped the picture, and it took him a moment to react.
     
    "Elephants are incredibly intelligent and it definitely makes you wonder if it was a conscious action," he says in an email.
     
    He says he wasn't worried because the elephant seemed quite gentle, despite its size. Luckily, the camera wasn't damaged when he got it back.
     
    LeBlanc still can't believe the worldwide media coverage the photo has attracted.
     
    "The global attention has been a total joy ride. I keep laughing when I see the story reach another outlet or country. To think my unexpected photo would make global news is almost unbelievable."
     
    He jokes that his next goal is to get the attention of comedian and TV host Ellen DeGeneres, adding a hashtag: #elfieonellen.
     
    LeBlanc had been studying abroad as part of a UBC program in Bangkok, but his semester ended two weeks ago and he is now travelling across Asia.
     
    He and his girlfriend Laura Reid, both from White Rock, B.C., are in the Philippines, where he says he's captured another "epic" selfie, this time of a whale shark.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Conservatives Seek Five Election Debates But Not Traditional Format

    Conservatives Seek Five Election Debates But Not Traditional Format
    OTTAWA — The Conservative party wants to increase the number of election debates, but also change who gets to host them.

    Conservatives Seek Five Election Debates But Not Traditional Format

    Male Fin Whale Hit By Cruise Ship Spotted Dead In Vancouver's Burrard Inlet Towed Off For Necropsy

    Male Fin Whale Hit By Cruise Ship Spotted Dead In Vancouver's Burrard Inlet Towed Off For Necropsy
    VANCOUVER — The Fisheries Department says a dead whale spotted in Vancouver's harbour came in on the bow of a cruise ship.

    Male Fin Whale Hit By Cruise Ship Spotted Dead In Vancouver's Burrard Inlet Towed Off For Necropsy

    Police Looking For Dangerous Offender Nathan Myles Charged With Assault Of 18-Year-Old Woman

    Police Looking For Dangerous Offender Nathan Myles Charged With Assault Of 18-Year-Old Woman
    Thirty-five-year-old Nathan Myles is facing 10 charges, including unlawful confinement, assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm.

    Police Looking For Dangerous Offender Nathan Myles Charged With Assault Of 18-Year-Old Woman

    Murder Investigation Begins In Abbotsford After Driver Finds Man On Road

    Murder Investigation Begins In Abbotsford After Driver Finds Man On Road
    ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — Police say a homicide investigation is underway in Abbotsford, B.C., after an injured man was found lying on a street and died minutes later.

    Murder Investigation Begins In Abbotsford After Driver Finds Man On Road

    Chilliwack Dad Randy Janzen Suspected Of Alleged Murder-Suicide Knew He Was In The Wrong

    Chilliwack Dad Randy Janzen Suspected Of Alleged Murder-Suicide Knew He Was In The Wrong
    A man identifying as Randy Janzen posted a disturbing note to Facebook last week in which he confessed to shooting his 19-year-old daughter Emily in the head to free her from chronic, crippling migraines. 

    Chilliwack Dad Randy Janzen Suspected Of Alleged Murder-Suicide Knew He Was In The Wrong

    Crews Struggle To Contain Massive Wildfire Southwest Of Prince George

    Crews Struggle To Contain Massive Wildfire Southwest Of Prince George
    PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — About 80 people have been ordered to leave their homes as crews continue to battle a massive wildfire in northern British Columbia.

    Crews Struggle To Contain Massive Wildfire Southwest Of Prince George