Zoo visitors spotted two elephants mating in Thailand.

Footage shows one of the majestic creatures mounting its partner in their vast enclosure in the forested area of Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan, on December 23.

Specks of dust can be seen falling from the male elephant as he thrusts behind his mate, while other elephants wander nearby.

The filmer said: 'It was my first time seeing how elephants' mate. It was so intriguing.'

Zoo staff are reportedly on standby as tourists watch the pair in the distance, ensuring safety as they witness the act.

Male elephants produce a hormone called musth, which increases their aggression and sexual activity. During this period, the male's testes and temporal glands become enlarged.

After mating, the male typically stays with the female to guard her from other males.

Thailand has up to 3,500 elephants in the wild. The population has been increasing in recent years, but it is still a fraction of the estimated 300,000 wild elephants that lived in the country at the beginning of the 20th century.

The main threats to wild elephants in Thailand are habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and conflict with humans.