Video footage has caught the moment a camel has its fur torn off by a visitor at a zoo in north-east China.

The female visitor can be seen pulling out hair from a camel at Dalian Forest Zoo on May 31.

The zoo said the camel is now in its shedding season and has not been injured by the woman's cheeky behaviour, reported People's Daily Online.

This is the moment a camel has its fur torn off by a pensioner at a zoo in northeast China

It remains unclear why the woman did so.

The short clip, posted to Sohu, shows a group of visitors to the zoo in Liaoning province on Wednesday morning.

A female pensioner surprised the crowd by approaching one of the camels before ripping a handful of fur from the animal.

The camel, shocked by the attack, also turned its head to stare at the woman.

A child was heard screaming upon seeing her ruthless behaviour.

The camel (left), shocked by the attack, also turned its head to stare at the woman (right)

As other visitors watched in shock, the woman put the fur into her handbag.

Dalian Forest Zoo issued a statement on Weibo saying that the pensioner lacks the sense to protect animals. Luckily, the animal is not injured and is 'emotionally stable'.

'The camel is in its shedding period and many hairs are falling off from its body. Her act didn't harm the animal at all.'

The zoo said they have already erected a sign reminding visitors not to touch the animals and increased patrols to monitor visitors' behaviour.

As other visitors watched in shock, the woman put the fur into her handbag

Tens of thousands online users discussed the video posted to Weibo.

'The camel looks very puzzled,' a user commented.

'Why is she taking advantage of the camel?' another user wondered.

'What can she do with a handful of camel hair?' one user questioned.