A fearless baby elephant jostled with park rangers who were trying to chase it back to its herd.

The three-year-old jumbo named Hong Thong was terrorising homes while looking for food in the village of Nong Mat in Trat province, Thailand, on May 16.

Wildlife officer Ekachai Donkhamprai and his partner were called to catch the naughty animal after receiving reports of wild elephants roaming the area.

The officers shouted and struck a PVC pipe to catch the attention of the young elephant, which immediately approached them, like it was looking for a fight.

Hong Thong was filmed trying to walk closer to the officers despite their attempts to drive it back to the wild. The baby jumbo eventually took the hint and later rejoined its herd.

Park ranger Ekachai said: 'Officers have been following these elephants for a year to ensure their safety, as well as the people's. The elephants and rangers are quite familiar with each other.'

Hong Thong reportedly belonged to a herd of eight elephants, including its mother.

Elephants are the national animal of Thailand. An estimated 2,000 elephants are living in the wild and a similar number in captivity.

In the wild, they roam through the deep jungle and in the country’s protected national parks but often encounter humans on roads and in villages. However, they are protected by laws and killing them carries a maximum prison term of up to three years and a fine of 1,000 baht (25GBP).