This is the heartwarming moment a rescued owl refused to leave the man who saved her.

Footage shows the kindhearted local holding a pink basin, with the juvenile female perched on its edge, in Tangshan, China.

He then gently raised the container, causing the bird to fly away, but she immediately returned to perch on the basin, appearing reluctant to soar into the wild, on October 15.

The wildlife worker can be heard laughing after catching the feathered creature, clearly entertained and in awe of its behaviour.

Experts said that owls can imprint on humans. Imprinting is a rapid learning process in which a young animal establishes a bond with the first moving object it encounters, often mistakenly identifying a human as its parent or caregiver. Consequently, the owl may view the man as its primary source of safety and security.