This is the would zoo believe it moment visitors to a zoo in China are allowed to pluck tufts of fur from a tiger's coat.

Bizarre video footage filmed at the Dalian Lion and Tiger Park in Liaoning Province on 8th June shows the big cats lying on the metal grill of an overhead walkway to cool off.

But while the tigers snore in the noon day sun, visitors take turns to yank out their fur, believed locally to ward off evil spirits.

Zoo officials told local media they had tried to ban the baffling souvenir hunters, but it has become so widespread that they cannot stamp it out.

A spokesperson explained: "We try to discourage it whenever we see it, but this is a big park and we can't be everywhere all the time."

They point out signs warning visitors that big cats may sometimes seem docile, but they can turn into vicious killers in a split second.

Visitors pull tiger's fur through iron cage to 'ward off evil spirits' at the Dalian Lion and Tiger Park in Dalian, Liaoning, China, undated. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (AsiaWire/NX)

Experts say the constant irritation caused by plucking fur may not harm tigers physically, but it erodes their trust in humans and causes stress and anxiety.

The clip his renewed calls for better animal protection, stricter enforcement, and stronger educational campaigns to combat superstitions.

(MJ Leidig / newsX)