This is the heartwarming moment hero locals saved three goats stuck on a tiny island near a dam in Thailand.

Boat operator Khun Tathawil Yamao saw the trio on a grassy mound surrounded by water when she took tourists on a trip in Tak province on October 8.

She was worried that the creatures would starve and drown on the rising reservoir so she returned with neighbours to evacuate the animals.

Footage shows the villagers heading to the sunken island to retrieve the goats. They took the animals back to their village to live free on the fields.

Khun said: ‘I took customers to go sightseeing at Valentine island when I saw the animals.

‘The island was too small for any animal to live comfortable so I told my friends about it and called some of my friends to help me.'

The men chased the animals around the tiny island but they were aloof and avoided the strangers.

Soon after they were herded with a blue PVC pole to the boat and were taken back to the village.

The creatures appeared healthy and without injuries. Khun said the animals will be released to a field to graze freely.

She said: ‘They are better off living here with unlimited land to run and eat. The island might sink soon because the water around the dam is only rising with the recent typhoons.'

Bhumibol Dam surrounded the area but during the hot season some of the areas have dried up. However, the recent severe typhoons made the water rise again in many spots, which could have led to the three goats being trapped on the small island.

Khun added: ‘We were relieved we found them on time. It would be very sad if we or tourists saw them floating around on our way to a beautiful island.'