by Donald Wood
Last updated: 4:00 PM ET, Tue May 26, 2015
Image via Instagram
Visiting elephants should on the itinerary of anyone traveling to another country where the animals are native, but one Canadian tourist got more than he bargained for when an elephant took his camera and snapped a selfie.
According to Jethro Mullen of CNN.com, the incredible image was captured by 22-year-old Christian LeBlanc several months ago, but it has become a huge sensation on the internet in recent days.
LeBlanc and his girlfriend were exploring the island of Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand, when they came across a group of elephants. The couple told CNN.com that they purchased a bucket of bananas from locals to feed the giant creatures, and that's when the hungry elephant grabbed LeBlanc's GoPro camera.
The camera was attached to an extension pole and was programmed to shoot continuously, resulting in the classic elephant selfie - now dubbed the elphie - that has made its way around the internet recently.
Here is LeBlanc's now famous elphie:
When asked about being nervous around the huge animal, LeBlanc told CNN.com, "At first, I was a little cautious of its size. However, a few minutes in, I realized that despite its power, the elephant was relatively gentle. I got comfortable enough that I let my guard down and let it grab my GoPro."
While LeBlanc knows that this is likely just an incredibly lucky moment, he also doesn't doubt that the elephant could have known all along it was taking a picture. LeBlanc said, "Elephants are incredibly intelligent, and it definitely makes you wonder if it was a conscious action."
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