Good Deed Gone Awry: Tourist’s Pet Cockroach Causes Stir on Thai Street

A Helping Hand Gone Wrong

What started as a small act of kindness quickly turned into a bizarre public scene in Kamphaeng Phet, upper central Thailand. A Thai woman, trying to help a foreign tourist, flicked a cockroach off his head—only to find out it was his beloved pet.

The video, widely circulated on Thai social media and shared by local news pages, shows the foreign man transferring the cockroach from his hand onto his head. Wearing a black balaclava, he appeared to be giving the insect a stable surface to walk on.

Misunderstanding what was going on, someone walking by reached out and swept the bug off his head. The man blew up in anger, shouting and stamping in the middle of a footpath while the woman quickly vanished. He then got down on his hands and knees and frantically hunted for the cockroach, finally replacing it gently back on his head.

An Unusual Companion

The individual was then also known to be a Russian tourist in Thailand. Witnesses were caught off guard as he dealt with the bug gingerly before walking off with it in his palm.

While most will cringe at the thought, pet cockroaches are not unusual. While others, such as the German cockroach, are considered household pests, larger, exotic forms are kept and bred by enthusiasts. These cockroaches are also a readily available feeder insect for reptiles like geckos, chameleons, or praying mantids.

Online Reactions and Cultural Clashes

The clip generated a flood of humorous responses from netizens. Some poked fun at the man’s reaction.

Others empathised with their love for their pets.

While most comments were lighthearted, some expressed concern for the man’s wellbeing.

Cockroaches as Pets?

Much as they have a bad name, not every cockroach is a dirty household pest.Pet owners breed several large and impressive-looking cockroach species as household companions. These insects stay quiet, require little upkeep, and often remain surprisingly clean compared to their more infamous relatives.

Pet Hissing Cockroaches, via EntomologyToday

However, experts advise caution, as cockroach bites, albeit rare, can trigger allergic reactions in some people. In a recent case in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province, a woman developed intense symptoms from a cockroach bite such as body pains, dizziness, and rashes.

While the incident itself is absurd, it serves to remind us all of how differences in culture, and unexpected pets, can yield quite vivid travel experiences.

Watch the video here:

@dailymailau

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♬ original sound – Daily Mail Australia