A man has been filmed repeatedly punching a helpless kangaroo in the face while his friend laughs hysterically in the background.

The marsupial appears to raise a paw in a failed attempt to defend itself at one point, while a later snippet shows the man holding the animal’s limp head in one hand as he batters it with the other.

Those involved are believed to be from New South Wales, where police told local media they are investigating the footage.

Unconfirmed reports on social media suggest the culprits initially hit the animal with their car, breaking its back.

It is not clear when the viral Snapchat video was taken, but Australia’s three-year drought has led to an increase of collisions with kangaroos, as more venture to roadsides in search of food.

Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed Show all 20 1 /20 Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed A child running towards a dust storm in Mullengudgery in New South Wales Marcia Macmillan/AFP Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed Wind gusts of 66 mph were recorded as a dust storm descended over Dubbo. Storms hit many parts of Australia's western New South Wales Ian Harris via AP Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed Hail covers vehicles in an intersection in Canberra. As well as dust storms, hail and flash floods have battered beleaguered Australian cities as extreme weather has diminished the threat from scores of wildfires that continue to blaze across the country's southeast Australia Institute via AP Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed A dust cloud billows over a street in Dubbo Ian Harris via AP Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed A man holds golf ball-size hail outside Parliament House after a severe hail storm hit Canberra EPA Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed A koala holding on to a tree before it was moved to a dryer enclosure during a flash-flood at the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby Australian Reptile Park/EPA Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed Bushland is seen burnt by fire as rain pools in large puddles at Bilpin, in the Blue Mountains AAP Image/Reuters Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed A staff member carrying koalas during a flash flood at the Australian Reptile Park Australian Reptile Park/AFP Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed A dust storm in Mullengudgery Marcia Macmillan/AFP Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed A submerged car on Gold Coast AP Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed Damaged cars parked outside the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia after a hail storm hit Canberra EPA Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed Golf ball-sized hail at Parliament House Getty Images Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed Aftermath of a hail storm at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) glasshouses in Canberra EPA Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed A fallen tree sits on top of a car at Caringbah in Sydney. Storms in New South Wales left more than 2,200 homes without power EPA Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed Damage at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) glasshouses in Canberra EPA Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed Hail stones outside the Parliament House in Canberra Don Arthur/AFP Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed Storm clouds gather over Sydney Harbour AFP via Getty Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed Hail covers vehicles in Canberra AP Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed Flooded fields on Gold Coast AP Australia fires: Dust storm and flooding that followed An aerial view as rain begins to fall on drought and fire-ravaged country near Tamworth Getty Images

New South Wales had the highest rate of animal collisions in the country in 2018, insurance company NRMA’s data showed. Nearly 90 per cent of claims were attributed to kangaroos.

The footage emerged amid a global outpouring of grief over the heavy losses suffered by Australia’s wildlife during a devastating bushfire season.

Experts estimate up to a billion creatures have been killed in the relentless infernos, which have razed an area the size of Bulgaria, leaving 29 people dead and destroying some 2,500 homes.

The brutal attack on the kangaroo drew instant fury on social media, with many rushing to identify the culprits.

The reaction was in notable contrast with that to viral footage in 2016 showing a man slapping a kangaroo which appeared to have his dog in a headlock – the ethics of which has fuelled internet debates for years.

A biologist and kangaroo expert later told National Geographic that the man, who was dubbed a hero by many, was lucky to have escaped the encounter with his life.