This is the heartwarming moment an elephant calf trapped in a well was rescued in India.

The baby jumbo had wandered away from its herd and plunged into the 20ft-deep well at a rubber plantation in the Ernakulam district of Kerala on February 16.

Passing workers discovered the animal trapped inside but could not help it as other elephants were lurking in the area, which could have caused a stampede.

Wildlife rescuers later arrived with an excavator and dug a path through the earth, allowing the calf to escape.

Forest officials said the calf was unharmed and has rejoined its herd.

A local official said: 'When the calf walked through the passage, we made loud noises to drive it away into the woods. The elephant herd was spotted near the rubber plantation during the rescue operation. We believe the rescued calf was reunited with its herd.'

Residents said the wild jumbos had been wreaking havoc on their crops and farmland, making them afraid to wander outside. They urged authorities to build a fence to prevent the elephants from entering the community area.

India is home to more than 60 per cent of the world's wild Asian elephant population. There are an estimated 29,964 wild elephants in India, according to the last elephant census done in 2017.

They are found in a variety of habitats across India, including forests, grasslands, and even deserts.