Townspeople watched as the calves struggled in the deep mud at Kirkcudbright harbour up their necks.
They had been grazing on merse land near the harbour and had wandered into the mud as temperatures soared.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service firefighters from Kirkcudbright, Castle Douglas and Gatehouse of Fleet rushed to the scene with the threat of an early evening tide coming in.
Kirkcudbright Lifeboat was also launched as the firefighters struggled to free the calves, which were eventually pulled to safety.
The rescuers managed to pull them out of the deep mud using two 45 metre hoses.
An SFRS spokesman said: “We got a report of the calves stuck the mud and sent units to the scene at Kirkcudbright Harbour.
“The lifeboat was also called out because of the threat of the incoming tide.”
The spokesman added: “Fortunately the firefighters were able to pull the calves to safety and they were unhurt and returned to the farmer.”
