This is the amusing moment a wild elephant played football with youngsters in India.

The teenage boys were having a kickabout in a field when the ball rolled near the passing elephant in Keonjhar, Odisha, on October 30.

Footage shows the animal kicking the ball, sending it flying into the air and prompting cheers from onlookers.

The filmer said the incident took place near Keonjhar's Dhabapitna playground, located within the Patna Forest Range.

Wild elephants in the country often wander into urban areas due to habitat loss, food scarcity, and water shortages, leading to conflicts between humans and animals.

Local media reported that mining activities in the area have disrupted elephant migration routes, increasing human-elephant interactions.