A group of farmers and villagers in India's Andhra Pradesh mistook an otter for the killer of livestock in multiple villages.

Footage captured in the Godavari district on December 16 shows the otter in a village well as farmers, villagers and forest officials look on.

Farmer Gopu Ramudun claimed that a buffalo calf was attacked and killed by the "strange animal."

Ramudun's allegation prompted a flurry of reports from neighbouring villages.

Villagers eventually spotted the suspect otter in a dilapidated well in a guava garden.

Forest officials were called and assisted the otter in escaping the well.

They also explained to the villagers that the otter only feasts on frogs and fish, not cattle.

A strange animal that created a huge stir in several villages in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh was rescued by officials. Farmers in several villages in the district found a strange animal wandering in their area. First a buffalo calf belonging to a farmer named Gopu Ramudu of village was attacked and killed by the strange animal. Reports of tens of calves killed by the strange animal also started coming from other villages like Jonnada, Penikeru, Nawabupeta Alamuru and Kapileswarapuram.

On Wednesday (December 16) farmers saw the strange animal in a dilapidated well in a guava garden at Jonnada-Penikeru village in Alamuru mandal. They were afraid to go near the strange animal and informed the forest officials about it. Officials came and helped the animal get out of the well. Officials said it was not a strange animal but a harmless water dog (river otter) which would not kill cattle but eat only fish and frogs. The water dog is spotted in a river which flows in the area but does not usually stray so far into the land. With this the farmers have breathed a sigh of relief. Now officials are trying to find out about the missing cattle.