This is the amazing moment a colony of ants floated together like a raft to cross a flooded field in India.

Environmentalist Vishwanath found the ants while documenting wildlife in Madurai District, Tamil Nadu State, on November 25.

The fields were flooded following monsoon rains that hit the region last month - but the insects used their natural instincts to survive.

Footage shows how thousands of the red fire ants clung to each other to form the red circular mass on the water while floating to safety.

Vishwanath said: “It was the first time that I saw it. It is a part of my nature conservation activity, often observing the behaviour of wildlife when I saw the ants.

''The ants turned themselves into a raft and floated to survive the sudden flood and rise in water level.''

When a fire ant colony floods, they join together to form a raft that is buoyant and prevents them from drowning.

These circular floating pancakes can last for weeks without the ants sinking.