This is the heroic moment a baby elephant was rescued from a hole and reunited with its mother.

Footage shows field workers constructing a ramp using a JCB excavator to help the young jumbo named Chotu climb out of the well in Deogarh, Odisha, India, on November 5.

Chotu's mother remained nearby, guarding her calf throughout the ordeal. In another video clip, it was seen walking alongside her mum after the rescue.

Reports say authorities rushed to the scene upon learning of the distressed calf. A herd of elephants was reportedly roaming the area on the night of November 4 in search of food when Chotu suddenly fell into the hole.

Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda said: 'Chotu fell into an abandoned well. While field staff started making a ramp, the mother kept guarding all along.

'The calf came out and immediately rushed to the mother. After the reunion, the mother thanked the saviours.'

The entire rescue operation lasted for an hour and a half.

The sub-continent has at least 30,000 wild elephants - more than any other country and approximately 60 per cent of the world's entire Asian elephant population.

Many more elephants are held in captivity in India. They are used for religious events and weddings.