An Indian man living in a forest has befriended four wild bears that visit him daily.

Footage shows the four animals approaching the small hut, where they are fed prasad by the elderly man in the dense forest of Janakpur, in the Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district of Chhattisgarh.

The family of wild bears quietly eats the food given to them and then returns to the forest.

The man, along with an elderly mum who lives with him, calls the bears 'Sitaram'.

Crowds have gathered at the spot to witness the unusual sight, and the kind resident said this routine has continued for many years.

India is home to four wild bear species. Major threats to the bears include habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Conservation efforts are ongoing, but workers say more measures are needed for their protection.