A newborn elephant calf had to hitch a ride on the shoulders on a wildlife official after it was rescued from a canal.
Footage shows the heartwarming moment when the elephant is carried to safety by the forestry worker.
The elephant calf was part of a herd and was passing though the forests in Nellimala in Ooty in southern India when it fell into a canal and got stuck in mud.
Hitchhiker: A wildlife official picks up a calf that has been rescued from a muddy canal and tried to run away into the road
Villagers called in forest officials for help and they were able to keep the mother at bay while they helped the calf get unstuck.
However, the newborn calf, estimated to be no more than a few days old, was understandably reluctant to come along quietly.
The baby elephant was separated from its mother, leaving it disorientated and hungry
Stuck: The elephant calf was part of a herd and was passing though the forests in Nellimala in Ooty in southern India when it fell into a canal and got stuck in mud
Scared: Having been rescued, the baby elephant tried to run away and was naturally scared and distressed
Calmer: The wildlife officials gave the elephant coconut water and helped it back to its mother
Men wearing camouflaged t-shirts and trousers can be seen comforting the dehydrated and scared calf as it keeps running away from them.
In order to stop the animal from running out into the road, a volunteer picks it up on his shoulder and takes it back into the forest.
The rescue crew gave it glucose and coconut water before sending it back into the forest for reuniting with its mother.
The calf seemed to have been born just few days ago as it trembled while taking steps