This is the spectacular moment male elephants battle it out during breeding season leaving one animal prone on the ground after being smashed into a fence.

The structure of an elephant herd is complicated with females forming groups and males tending to live in isolation or in small groups with a dominant male and young elephants that learn from their older associate.

But there is bitter rivalry when the mating season comes around, as these tourists found out when several African elephants began battling it out at the Shanghai Wildlife Park, in China’s biggest city.

With no place to escape, the losing tusker was constantly knocked around before being smashed violently into a fence where it lay not moving after losing the battle.

Online commentators said it was like watching something from Jurassic Park, noting that the battle of the giants was like watching something from a gladiator movie.

One named ‘flora and fauna’ said: “The grand event that can only be seen in the African savannah can now be seen at the Shanghai Wildlife Park.

And another named Zzzd noted: “Give children a little bit of an introduction to the shock of nature.”

User ‘piano teacher’ added: “The parents with their children in the front row were so calm. If I had asked, I would have run away with my son under my arms.”