A photo posted by Facebook user Chakkrit Chamnongplee went viral on Thursday, garnering 14,000 likes, 389 comments and 11,000 shares.
A follow-up video showed the elephant enjoying its bath as staff sprayed water and delighted it enough to swing its trunk. The clip received 1,200 likes, 66 comments, and 395 shares as of press time.
Netizens joked that the centre had shifted from washing cars to bathing elephants, with some suggesting a glossy coating as the finishing touch.