This is the heartwarming moment a kind Buddhist monk saved a lost baby owl.

Phra Kru Odd, an elephant conservationist from the Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan temple, spotted the owl fledgling lying on the road during storm recovery efforts in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, on April 21.

The animal lover picked up the juvenile bird, fearing it would be crushed by oncoming cars. He placed it in a cage to be handed over to a local wildlife rehabilitation centre.

He said: 'This bird is still very small and weak. It must have just been separated from its mother during the storm. We intend to help it as best we can. I am glad that there is an agency ready to take care of it until it is fully recovered before releasing it back into the wild.'

An official from the Lanna Wild Bird Rescue and Rehabilitation Fund said the baby owl was weakened but had no serious injuries. It is expected to make a swift recovery and will be released into its natural habitat.

Thailand, a largely Buddhist nation, believes that kindness towards animals should be encouraged, with temples sometimes being a safe refuge for stray cats, dogs, and even monkeys that don't have homes.