Rescue workers in India had to enlist the help of a heavy-duty JCB digger to free an baby elephant that had got stuck upside down in the mud.

The rescue took place near Dhupchi Gara village near Jalpaiguri city in West Bengal, India, after the local forest department located the calf after being alerted by villagers.

The four and a half-year-old elephant calf, seen here with its legs up in the air, was released from the mud after a two-hour procedure with a JCB to dig it out.

The incident took place today (September 3).

The four-and-a-half year-old elephant struggles to get back on her feet at the beginning of the clip, flailing her legs into the air.

As the mud is dragged away by the JCB the elephant slowly regains her footing before springing up and running off to rejoin her herd.

The rescue operation took place in a pit near Dhupchi Gara village Jalpaiguri West Bengal, India and the forest department found the calf when he got a call from villagers.

A team of 8 elephants had entered the village on Sunday night after searching for food. Later the elephant returned to the jungle.

The incident happended on 3 September 8.30 am The rescue operation took more than two hour before the elephant was able to rejoin her herd.

“Elephants often go to the farms for food said Forest officals