This polite elephant appeared to wave to a group of safari goers as if to say "thank you" for letting the herd cross.

The filmer said: "This was about midday after doing a safari in Sri Lanka. The driver took us to a few viewing spots that allowed us to observe from a safe distance.

"Suddenly it got quiet, all the jeeps in the area turned off their engines, as we watched a group of elephants slowly cross the trail.

"They gracefully trodded across when it got to the end. The last one outstretched its trunk. I saw this as the human equivalent of a wave. For a brief moment, a being connecting with us, before slowly disappearing into the trail with the rest of its group."

This was about midday after doing a safari in Sri Lanka. The driver took us to a few viewing spots that allowed us to observe from a safe distance. Suddenly it got quiet, all the jeeps in the area turned off their engines, as we watched a group of elephants slowly cross the trail. They gracefully trodded across when it got to the end. The last one outstretched its trunk. I saw this as the human equivalent of a wave. For a brief moment, a being connecting with us, before slowly disappearing into the trail with the rest of its group.