A sweet gesture: an elephant cutely returns a shoe to a baby after it falls into the zoo, in a video that has been shared by millions.

In the cute clip, the huge creature can be seen gently scooping up the tiny blue and yellow shoe using its enormous foot and lengthy trunk.

Watch: 'Compassionate' elephant returns shoe dropped by child

Slowly grasping the minuscule footwear, the friendly giant delicately returned the shoe dropping it back into the young visitor’s hand.

Elephant returns toddler's shoe after it falls into zoo enclosure | Watch

The smart creature named Shanmai – which means ‘Mountains’ – lives at the Shendiaoshan Wild Animal Nature Reserve in Weihai, China.

At first glance Shanmai initially believed the shoe was food but upon picking it up soon realised it wasn’t a bite to eat, according to a staff member.

Adorable footage has emerged from a nature reserve in China, showing a kind elephant returning a toddler’s show after it had fallen into a zoo enclosure (pictured)

The clever giant named Shanmai, initially believed the footwear was food but soon realised it wasn’t upon scooping it up (pictured: the elephant returning the shoe)

Elephant Returns Child's Shoe After It Falls Into Zoo Enclosure in Moment of Pure Sweetness - PetHelpful News

But the kind elephant’s good deed didn’t go unnoticed as a zookeeper later rewarded Shanmai a watermelon for their kind gesture.