This is the dramatic moment a hormone-crazed wild elephant caused chaos after stomping across a motorway and foraging through homes after being defeated by a rival bull.

The eight-tonne jumbo emerged from the jungle before bringing traffic to a halt in Chanthaburi, Thailand, on December 29.

Frantic park rangers surrounded the 25-year-old elephant while residents locked themselves in their homes while it wandered among buildings.

Footage shows how the elephant crossed an eight-lane motorway before sniffing through people's garages.

The beast appeared to have oil pouring from its cheeks - indicating its highly-charged breeding period - and is believed to have left the safety of the forest ''in shame'' after a failed duel with a rival bull over a female.

Park official Sommai Kwangthong said: ''We temporarily closed the road to prevent danger to the elephant and drivers.

''We could see oil flowing from both cheeks indicating that it was in a breeding phase.

''This is a very dangerous time when the elephants are aggressive and unpredictable. The disturbance is expected to be caused by fighting in the forest with a rival elephant during the search for a mate. It may have then left the group after being defeated.''

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VIDEO: https://www.dropbox.com/s/20qfa8t0xb6bfv5/0801201902.mp4?dl=0
Hormone-crazed wild elephant sparks panic after stomping along motorway 'in shame' after fight with rival bull

This is the dramatic moment a hormone-crazed wild elephant caused chaos after stomping across a motorway and foraging through homes after being defeated by a rival bull.

The eight-tonne jumbo emerged from the jungle before bringing traffic to a halt in Chanthaburi, Thailand, on December 29 at 10pm.

Frantic park rangers surrounded the 25-year-old elephant while residents locked themselves in their homes while it wandered among buildings.

Footage shows how the elephant crossed an eight lane motorway before sniffing through people's garages.

The beast appeared to have oil pouring from its cheeks - indicating its highly-charged breeding period - and is believed to have left the safety of the forest ''in shame'' after a failed duel with a rival bull over a female.

Park official Sommai Kwangthong said: ''We temporarily closed the road to prevent danger to the elephant and drivers. Some people were afraid to leave the house.

''From the observation of the elephant, we could see oil flowing from both cheeks indicating that it is in a breeding phase.

''This is a very dangerous time when the elephants are aggressive and unpredictable. The disturbance is expected to be caused by fighting in the forest with a rival elephant during the search for a mate. It may have then left the group after being defeated.''

Park officials identified the elephant as one that had be