This is the adorable moment a playful elephant slid down a mountain slope on its knees.

Video shows the young male elephant named Tumtam in the jungle in Narathiwat province, southern Thailand on March 17.

The jumbo appeared to kneel while propelling itself down the slope with its forelegs. He later stood up to walk properly the rest of the way.

Onlooker Wuttichai Boonsong said: 'I think he was lazy to walk that's why he just slid down the hill. Tumtam looked very cute.'

Thailand has an estimated 2,000 Asian elephants living in the wild but there is often conflict when they come into contact with humans on roads and in villages. A similar number of elephants are kept captive where they work in zoos and are hired out for religious festivals and weddings.