An aggressive wild elephant chased passing cars on a mountain road in Thailand.

The male jumbo emerged from the forest and wandered onto the rural road in the Nakhon Ratchasima province on April 3.

Footage shows the elephant charging at a wildlife officer who arrived at the scene in a white pickup truck to ensure that the elephant was not harmed by traffic.

The ranger kept his cool and simply waved away the elephant, which turned on its heels and walked back into the jungle.

Onlooker Jiripat Niya said: "I was worried about what the elephant would do, as they can be so aggressive when they are startled."

An estimated 2,000 elephants are living in the wild in Thailand and a similar number in captivity, where they live in sanctuaries, zoos or work privately for hire at weddings and festivals.

Male Asian elephants roam alone and only join herds to mate. In contrast, African male elephants remain part of the herds.

An aggressive wild elephant chased passing cars on a mountain road in Thailand.

The male jumbo emerged from the forest and wandered onto the rural road in Nakhon Ratchasima province on April 3.

Footage shows the bull charging at a wildlife officer who arrived at the scene in a white pickup truck to ensure that the elephant was not harmed by traffic.

The ranger kept ice-cool and simply waved away the elephant, which turned on its heels and walked back into the jungle.

Onlooker Jiripat Niya said: ‘I was worried about what the elephant would do, as they can be so aggressive when they are startled.’

An estimated 2,000 elephants are living in the wild in Thailand and a similar number in captivity, where they live in sanctuaries, zoos or work privately for hire at weddings and festivals.

Male Asian elephants roam alone and only join herds to mate. In contrast, African male elephants remain part of the herds.