Two rescue dog have become best friends with an orphaned elephant - which even lets them ride on her back.

The animals have been inseparable ever since they were taken into the Tiemchan Elephant Camp, a sanctuary in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand.

Six-year-old female elephant Valentine allows the black pooch, named Hiccup, to ride on its back like a mahout. The second dog, Maa, has also learned how to join the tandem ride on elephant's back.

Footage from on August 27 shows the two dogs riding with the adorable jumbo, which is unfazed by the passengers on its back.

Chaimongkol Kananok, one of the staff at the camp, said that Valentine had always let two-year-old Hiccup climb its back even when it was still a puppy.

He said: "I guess it's because they grew up together. This is quite unusual, dogs and elephants do not get along. I was surprised."

The staff said that Hiccup has taken the role of a mahout and copies the things that they do inside the camp like taking care of the elephants.

Chaimongkol added: "He thinks he is the bodyguard of Valentine and is very protective of her.

"The pooch is like the elephant's shadow, they are always together. Even while sleeping, Valentine is never out of Hiccup's sight."

Valentine was born at the camp six years ago while Hiccup was only a puppy when he was rescued and taken to the camp.

It did not take too long for both to become close. As the puppy grew, so did his love for the jumbo. He was then joined by Maa, who also rides with them.

The elephant usually guides the nature trails for the camp's visitors, but when his two favourite dogs arrived, she will kneel down to allow them to climb on her back.

Chaimongkol said that even the tourists would notice the ordinary closeness between the two animals.

Thailand has at least 2,000 elephants living in the wild and a similar number in captivity. They live in sanctuaries, elephant parks, zoos, tourist resorts or with private owners who use them for weddings and religious ceremonies.