The fossil of an elephant estimated to be five to eight million years old was discovered from the Siwalik sediments exposed in northern India's Uttar Pradesh.

The incident came out of Shivalik forest in the Badshahi Bagh area of Saharanpur district.

According to reports, the forest department team in Saharanpur were conducting camera trap surveys in the forest areas, including the count of wild elephants in the region.

Lying in a shallow water stream the unusually long stone caught the team's eye.

The two-feet-long specimen was sent to Dehradun-based Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology which confirmed that the fossil was the lower jaw (mandibular ramus) of an extinct relative of the modern Asian elephant.

"We have found a fossil of a Stegodon, a variety of the elephant which used to be found at an early age. The species had tusks that grew 10-12 feet. The fossil is from Dhok Pathan formation of Siwalik. The estimated age of the specimen may range from five to eight million years," VK Jain, Chief Conservator of Forest told the media.

Stegodon preceded Elephas Maximus (the Asian Elephant).

"This is the first fossil of its kind and we would like to preserve the fossil and increase our research because if we were able to find the fossil, there is a possibility of finding more," he added.

The scientists were able to identify the third lower molar and the nine clear ridges.

The length of the molar is nearly 24 cm and it has a thick enamel.

The fragment was dated using magnetostratigraphy.

The technique relies on the ability of sedimentary rocks to acquire remanent magnetisation when they form which can help pin down the geological age.

Previously, Stegodon fossils have been found in Saketi in Himachal Pradesh, 76 kilometres (47.22 miles) from the site of the new find.