This is the adorable moment a playful elephant slid down a muddy hill on its knees after heavy rain in Thailand.

The male jumbo named Somsak was filmed sliding down the slippery dirt path while returning home in Ranong province on September 17. The large creature made happy grunting noises as it made streaks in the mud using its two hind legs.

His owner Owner Tawatchai Suriwong said: 'I couldn't stop laughing when I saw Somsak using his knees to go down. He's so funny.'

Thailand has an estimated 2,000 Asian elephants living in the wild but they wander freely among protect forests and there is often conflict when they come into contact with humans on roads and in villages.

A similar number of elephants are kept in captivity where they work in the tourist industry or get hired out for religious festivals and weddings. A small number work in commercial logging.