This is the heroic moment a wild elephant trapped in a water pit was rescued in China.

The hapless adult female jumbo was foraging when it fell into a man-made water reservoir in the forest in Jinghong, Yunnan, on September 17.

The Management and Conservation Bureau of Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve received a report of the struggling elephant from forest rangers, prompting them to take immediate action and employ an excavator.

Footage shows the elephant attempting to clamber out of the water-filled well.

The rescue team arrived and dug mud from the hole to expand it, helping the animal climb out.

After the successful operation, the authorities monitored it for 30 minutes to check if it was okay.

The bureau also evacuated nearby villagers to prevent the animal from frightening them.

Officials reported that it did not sustain serious injuries but was visibly exhausted from the incident.

Wild female Asian elephants can weigh up to 6,000 pounds (2,750 kilograms) and need to drink between 68 litres (18 gallons) and 100 litres (26 gallons) of water every day.