A fierce wild elephant pushed back cars along a mountain road.

Footage shows the massive creature walking towards the motorists as the drivers backed away in Nakhon Nayok province, Thailand on March 21.

The jumbo caused a heavy traffic jam in the area with many being forced to retreat and use another route.

Driver Jane Chatet said: ‘It was a male, probably looking for a girl. Most drivers left to avoid scaring the elephant.'

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. In the wild they are seen wandering freely among protected forests, occasionally appearing on the roads that run through them.

Male Asian elephants, unlike African elephants, roam alone once they are over ten years old while females remain with the herd. They are most during mating season from November to January when they emerge from the jungles searching for a mate.

There is conflict when they come into contact with humans on rural roads and in villages so wildlife rangers are tasked with monitoring their movements.