Facebook told BuzzFeed News that after a careful review of the video, it did not believe it promoted or encouraged animal cruelty. However, it acknowledged that some people may find the images upsetting.

"People come to Facebook to share experiences of the world around them and on occasion this may result in the sharing of content that some may find upsetting," a spokesperson from Facebook told BuzzFeed News.

"While we do not allow content that directly encourages violence, we try to create a safe environment that balances people's desire to express themselves and in some cases condemn what they see."