A baby elephant cuddled up to its mum for an afternoon nap after being rescued by park rangers.

The calf was saved by the Manambolly forest range staff in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Tamil Nadu State, southern India, on December 29, after it was found wandering lost and alone.

Field staff launched an immediate search for its herd and were able to trace it some two miles away with the help of drones.

After bathing the baby elephant and covering it in mud to remove human scent, they took it to the area and set it free close to the herd.

The calf was successfully reunited with its mother and later spotted with the herd of 10 elephants. ATR authorities then assigned four teams to continue monitoring both the calf and the herd.

While monitoring, the elephant trackers came across the incredible sight of the young calf sleeping in its mother's arms in the middle of a tea plantation near Valparai, on the afternoon of January 2.

Supriya Sahu, Environment, Climate Change and Forest official later shared the video of the heartwarming reunion.