This is the terrifying moment an ignorant tourist was trampled by an elephant after he tried to take a selfie with it.

Footage shows the huge animal charging after the man as he flees for his life in southwest India on Sunday.

The tourist, named as R.Basavaraju, had reportedly trespassed into a restricted forest near a temple before the encounter.

A video of the incident was filmed by visitors at the reserve in Karnataka and has since emerged online. 

It shows the elephant standing on the roadside before raising its trunk and charging across the road in front of a moving car – in pursuit of the tourist.

Basavaraju is seen turning around and running away from the mammal into the busy road.

But, he faceplants onto the tarmac and the elephant catches him.

The giant animal stomps on him several times, taking off his trousers and underwear. 

The elephant stands over the tourist before trotting away – allowing the man to get to his feet and flee to safety.

Miraculously, the man survived but was taken to hospital with severe injuries.

According to a witness, Daniel Osorio, the elephant was seen eating carrots roadside when the tourist approached it to take a selfie.

The elephant was provoked by the sudden bright flash and attacked the man.

Basavaraju was slapped with a fine of 25,000 Rupees (£200) and ordered to make a video confessing to his actions.

In the clip he says his behaviour was caused by his lack of knowledge on wildlife safety rules.

The witness, Osorio, said: ‘This incident is a strong reminder to follow the rules of the wildlife reserves and to let trained authorities, not people on foot, handle situations like this.’

He also warned other tourists to not make the same mistake.

The Forest Department said: ‘Such reckless stunts not only endanger human lives but also provoke unpredictable and dangerous animal behaviour’.

The Indian sub-continent has at least 30,000 wild elephants – more than any other country.

They are also home to 60 per cent of the world’s entire Asian elephant population.

This is not the only elephant attack to happen in India recently.

Last year, an elephant attacked a Russian traveller at the Amer Fort in Jaipur – a popular tourist site.

Footage shows the female elephant grabbing the woman with its trunk, swinging her vigorously, and then slamming her to the ground and breaking her leg.

Another person appears to go flying as the tourist is swung around the courtyard. Two people were injured in the commotion, animal welfare group PETA reported.

The same elephant, who is forced to give rides at the popular tourist site, also severely injured a male shopkeeper in October 2022, the organisation said.

While elephants rarely act out, welfare groups say they can become aggressive and even kill people when threatened or mistreated like the thousands used for entertainment purposes across Asia.

Footage showed Gouri the elephant attacking a Russian tourist in the main courtyard of Amer Fort in Jaipur, India.

The gentle giant – known as ‘Number 86’ at work – is pictured cloaked in red cloth and a saddle as others nearby carry tourists on their backs.

At the start of the clip, Gouri picks up the traveller with her trunk and swings her round the courtyard.

The tourist is sent flying as the elephant lets go, and another person appears to fall from the elephant’s back.

Gouri turns to walk away hurriedly as witnesses rush in to help the two people lying on the ground.

According to PETA, the elephant also attacked a shopkeeper in October 2022, breaking his ribs and one of his legs.