The image of an elephant and her calf fleeing a mob of jeering men that set them on fire has been awarded a Sanctuary Wildlife Photography Award.

The image, titled Hell is Here, was captured by photographer Biplab Hazra in eastern India.

Hazra was awarded Wildlife Photographer of the Year by Sanctuary Asia, India's leading wildlife and conservation magazine.

Hazra's caption on the image said the elephant mother's ears were angled forward, stoically ignoring the jeers of the crowd while its calf screamed in confusion and fear as fire licked at its feet.

"Flaming tar balls and crackers fly through the air to a soundtrack of human laughter and shouts," the caption said.

Hazra said the humiliation of elephants was a regular occurrence in the Bankura district of West Bengal, just like other Indian states with large Asian elephant populations. The country is home to 70 per cent of the world's species.

Wandering elephants are a problem for local people, who suffer damage to their land and property.

This only adds to the bloodlust of mobs that attack herds of elephants for fun.

Hazra said there is utter indifference of the central and state government to recognise the crisis that is at hand.