In a video which has emerged on social media, a mahout (elephant rider) at a temple in the Indian state of Kerala asks his elephant for permission to go home as the jumbo munches on leaves. Responding, the elephant shakes his head from side to side, which in India is a 'yes'; he was allowing the rider to go.
But the gesture of the elephant leaning down towards the mahout for a kiss has taken Twitter users by surprise.
Heartwarming videos of elephants have flooded social media ever since the tragic killing of a pregnant elephant, who was fed a pineapple filled with firecrackers.