This is the moment a pelican in a zoo park seemingly tries to eat a small child by clamping its huge beak around the youngster's head as shocked parents look on.

The incident happened in a park in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province in central China, and it was shared on 28th September.

Footage shows the free-roaming bird stretching its long neck towards the girl before snapping its beak shut around the toddler's head as if attempting to swallow it.

The woman who filmed the scene, named as Ms Zhou, said the pelican had ignored adults who tried to tease it moments earlier but turned its attention to the youngster instead.

The girl's mum later said she was not injured and found the episode funny.

Local reports said the pelican was part of a group of large waterbirds kept in the park.

Pelicans can grow up to 1.88 metres (6.2 feet) long and weigh around 13 kilogrammes (29 lbs), using their vast throat pouches to scoop up fish.

Pelican snatches child's head in Wuhan, China. The video was shared on Douyin - the Chinese version of TikTok on Sep. 28, 2025. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video. (newsX)

Zoo experts defended the bird and said its behaviour was likely a display of curiosity or territorial defence rather than aggression.

All pelican species in China, including the Dalmatian, white, and spot-billed pelican, are listed as national first-class protected wild animals.

(Mike Leidig / newsX)