Three injured grass owls were rescued by villagers in the Philippines.

The birds were believed to have inhaled smoke as farmers set fire to their crops in Iloilo province, on January 13.

Resident Jamesly Bruno said he received a call from his uncle Reco, a sugarcane farmer, to fetch the injured birds found at the field.

He said: 'I took the owls home and put them inside a cage for safekeeping. The next day, I struggled to feed them. I was afraid they would die so I tried to free them, but they were too weak to take flight.'

Jamesly added he called village authorities for help, and a village councilar soon arrived at his home.

The grass owls were then taken to the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office to be nursed back to health.

The eastern grass owl is a nocturnal bird found in grasslands across parts of Australia, Asia, and the Pacific. Known for their heart-shaped facial disc, they primarily feed on small mammals and are adapted to living in dense vegetation.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List lists the species under 'least concern'.