A heartwarming video has emerged from China of a baby elephant being rescued after falling into a deep pit in a nature reserve.

In the footage, filmed in Yunnan Province in January, the wild elephant calf can be seen struggling to get out of the empty water storage pit.

Maintaining a safe distance, a police officer then works to remove some earth from the side of the pit, allowing the animal to haul itself to safety.

According to local reports, the elephant fell into the pit when heavy rain made the ground slippery.

Straight after the rescue, the calf managed to rejoin its family.

A heartwarming video has emerged from China of a baby elephant being rescued after falling into a deep pit in a nature reserve.

In the footage, filmed in Yunnan Province in January, the wild elephant calf can be seen struggling to get out of the empty water storage pit.

Maintaining a safe distance, a police officer then works to remove some earth from the side of the pit, allowing the animal to haul itself to safety.

According to local reports, the elephant fell into the pit when heavy rain made the ground slippery.

Straight after the rescue, the calf managed to rejoin its family.