Locals used a model elephant for a religious parade amid concerns over the animals' exploitation in Thailand.

Instead of live jumbos, villagers in costumes rode on a life-sized pachyderm figure for the Boon Phawade Faie procession in the Mueang Loei district of Loei province on March 22.

District chief Payung Lekdee and his wife dressed up as folklore characters, and were lifted onto the model elephant's back using a crane.

They sat on a colourful saddle as festival-goers paraded through the streets towards Wat Phon Sung temple, the main venue for the annual Buddhist fair.

Authorities said the dummy elephant - made from a steel frame and painted sacks - helped save money on renting actual elephants. They added the model can be re-used for the festival next year.

Thailand has an estimated 2,000 Asian elephants living in the wild - down from 100,000 a century ago - and around 3,000 in captivity owned privately.

Animal rights groups have continually criticised the use of elephants in the tourism industry and in Buddhist religious processions and ceremonies.