Video shared on social media shows a trophy hunter shooting and killing a sleeping lion and then being congratulated on the kill

A harrowing video of the moment a hunter shoots and kills a sleeping lion in the wild has swept social media.

The clip was posted by the Twitter account @Protect_Wldlife on Monday, without any identifying details about the shooter or where the incident took place, save for the guide calling the man by last name, potentially saying, 'Mr. Goney' or 'Mr. Gooney.'

Neither man has been identified and the video is undated.

It is unclear where it was taken but the guide has a South African accent.

'This "hunter" sneaked up on a SLEEPING #Lion and killed it! How brave, how sporting - HOW C**TISH!!!,' the tweet which included the video read, prompting thousands of responses in outrage over the spectacle.

One person wrote: 'I live to pour boiling hot water on him while he's sleeping and watch him scream in agony - that was horrible to watch.'

People on social media have called for the man to be identified.

At the current rate of lion hunting and poaching, the majestic animals could go extinct by the year 2050, according to the African Wildlife Foundation.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

The man's identity is not known, but the guide calls the man by last name, potentially saying, 'Mr. Goney' or 'Mr. Gooney'

People on social media have expressed their outrage over the clip, with one person writing, 'I live to pour boiling hot water on him while he's sleeping and watch him scream in agony - that was horrible to watch'

The video shows an unnamed hunter, who is referred to by last name but inaudibly, pointing a rifle at a sleeping lion while he's being coached to shoot.

The hunter fires one shot, and awakes the lion, which arches its back in pain and looks around at where the attack has come from.

Before the lion can understand the assault against it, the hunter fires a second and third shot.

The person guiding the shooter then tells him to stop, saying, 'OK, OK, don't do any more.'

In the video, the hunter fires one shot, and awakens the unsuspecting lion to meet its demise

The lion arches its back in pain and looks around at where the attack has come from. Before the lion can understand the assault against it, the hunter fires a second and third shot

The lion can be seen writhing in pain on the ground, after being awakened by the attack

The guide then shakes the shooters' hand and says, 'That, Mr. [inaubible], is a very nice lion.'

It sounds as if the man's last name might by Goney, or Gooney, but it's not completely clear exactly what the guide says in that moment.

'A very nice lion,' the guide continues, while laughing and patting the man on the back.

The clip then cuts to the guide prodding the lion with the butt of the rifle to ensure it's dead, saying again, 'Very nice lion,' while shaking the shooter's hand once more.

The clip then cuts to the guide prodding the lion with the butt of the rifle to ensure it's dead, saying again, 'Very nice lion,' while shaking the shooter's hand once more

'Beautiful,' the guide says, as the video shows a closeup of the lifeless animal's face

'Beautiful,' the guide says, as the video shows a closeup of the lifeless animal's face.

'That is an exceptional lion,' the guide says.

The account which shared the video is an animal rights advocacy account, based in the United Kingdom, according to the information on the page.

'I am an advocate for wildlife,' the biography reads.

'I expose animal abuse and abusers wherever they are. I will NEVER stop fighting for better animal rights and welfare.'

The account which shared the video is an animal rights advocacy account, based in the United Kingdom, according to the information on the page, under username @Protect_Wildlife

Many users responded to the footage, which was also shared by an account listed as belonging to 'Danny Smith' under username '@doglab.' Several called out the cowardice of attacking the wild animal at rest

Many expressed objection over trophy hunting, in general, regardless of whether the animal was asleep at the time of its killing

'Even if it was awake, the Poor Animal Shouldn’t be Killed AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!! EVIL B*****D!!!!!!!!!! [various emojis],' wrote another user

Many users responded to the footage, which was also shared by an account listed as belonging to 'Danny Smith' under username '@doglab.'

Several called out the cowardice of attacking the wild animal at rest.

'A sleeping lion, wow what a big man! [angry, cursing face emoji],' wrote one user.

Many expressed objection over trophy hunting, in general, regardless of whether the animal was asleep at the time of its killing.

'This is not hunting, or sport...it's murder #stoptrophyhunting #Fightforyourworld.' user @verdiKate wrote.

'Even if it was awake, the Poor Animal Shouldn’t be Killed AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!! EVIL B*****D!!!!!!!!!! [various emojis],' wrote another user.

Others suggested penalties for the actions of the unidentified men in the video.

'In my book that should be 5 years in jail. Grotesque,' one user wrote.

Another still called for a punishment in kind, replying, 'More like fed 2 a pride of lions & eaten alive.'

Others suggested penalties for the actions of the unidentified men in the video. 'In my book that should be 5 years in jail. Grotesque,' one user wrote

Another called for a punishment in kind, replying, 'More like fed 2 a pride of lions & eaten alive'

More than a few people called for the naming of the man in the clip.

'I pray he is named and shamed and becomes a total social pariah and hounded out of existence,' wrote user @CptCloggy.

'Disgusting, loathesome excuse for a human. I'm not religious but there is a special kind of hell for psychopaths like this. I feel sick.'