A pregnant buffalo was rescued after she fell into an abandoned well in Thailand.

The farm animal was feeding on the grass with five others when she slipped down the hole in Supanburi province on August 20.

She had been trapped on the bottom of the well for at least four hours before her owner realised she was missing and searched the area.

When they saw the female buffalo in the hole, animal rescuers were called to the scene and began to dig through the soil as the creature was too heavy to lift up.

Farmer Chaloey Panting said: ‘I think my buffalo slid down while she was looking for more grass. Fortunately, a villager noticed her disappearance before it was too late.'

There was water at the bottom of the 13ft-deep hole but not enough to drown the buffalo so it was unhurt. After 30 minutes, the creature was safely pulled out of the hole and returned to the farmer.