This is the moment a terrified wild elephant was chased away by pet dogs in Thailand.

The jumbo had wandered into the residential area looking for food when it came across the pooches in Chachoengsao province on January 6.

Footage shows the massive animal bolting in fear across the street as a barking mutt ran after it. The elephant was seen charging back into the woods.

Residents said the elephant frequently visited the community but was often driven off by the dogs.

Onlooker Somboon said: 'We're thankful to the dogs for protecting our gardens. The elephant would eat our fruit and vegetables if it wasn't for the dogs.'

As of 2023, there are an estimated 3,084-3,500 wild elephants in Thailand. The population has been increasing in recent years, but it is still a fraction of the estimated 300,000 wild elephants that lived in Thailand at the beginning of the 20th century. The main threats to wild elephants in Thailand are habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and conflict with humans.