This is the astonishing moment an unarmed man takes on an aggressive elephant and forces it to retreat.

The elephant tries to charge, but he blocks its way, stares it down and drives it back to the forest.

But forest officials in Kerala are not impressed and have launched a manhunt to trace and arrest him.

A forest department official said: “This man has been spotted in several parts of the state taking on elephants. He provokes them and tries to push them back with stones and sticks, sometimes with just bare hands.”

“He sees it as an act of daredevliry. But it’s dangerous and an offence under the Wildlife act. We hope to arrest him soon and put an end to it,” the official added.

Kerala forest officials received the video on February 17 and said they would share location and other details after they complete the investigation.

Wildlife conservation expert N Vadivel explained why the elephant had retreated instead of crushing him in the video.

“The elephant would have found the man threatening and stepped back. But you can never tell when a wild elephant will be calm or fierce. He was just lucky to survive as it could have trampled on him as well,” said Vadivel.

“Harming wild animals or even disturbing them is an offence,” added Vadivel.