In a Facebook post on Oct. 17, some officers from Ang Mo Kio North neighbourhood police centre stumbled upon a "tortoise" by the roadside of Upper Thomson Road.

This apparently took place during their patrol earlier this month.

The police then escorted the little critter to Lower Peirce Reservoir and placed it on the grass patch by the water.

Thanks to this kind-hearted act, the critter was spared from becoming roadkill.

The post, however, got some people worried about the critter as tortoises cannot swim.

Not a tortoise

Deputy chief executive officer of Acres, Kalai Vanan, has identified the creature as a Malayan box terrapin.

Speaking to Mothership, Kalai added that Malayan box terrapin is a native species of reptile found in Singapore.

He also said that the population of this species, unfortunately, has dwindled due to the irresponsible and illegal releases of red-earred slider terrapins into our waters.