A Dubbo teenager has been charged with animal cruelty over a social media video showing a distressed emu allegedly being plucked.

Key points: A 19-year-old Dubbo man has been charged with animal cruelty over for 'recklessly beating an animal to cause prolonged suffering'

A 19-year-old Dubbo man has been charged with animal cruelty over for 'recklessly beating an animal to cause prolonged suffering' It came following complaints from the public after a video of the alleged incident went viral online

It came following complaints from the public after a video of the alleged incident went viral online The video appeared to show an emu trapped in a fence, being dragged, ridden and plucked as bystanders laughed

The viral video appears to show an emu, which had been trapped in a fence, being dragged, ridden and plucked; with handfuls of its feathers pulled out.

Two bystanders — one filming the incident — can be heard laughing.

On Wednesday, a 19-year-old man was handed a serious animal cruelty charge, for 'recklessly beating an animal to cause prolonged suffering'.

Officers from the Rural Crime Prevention Team, attached to the Orana Mid-Western Police District in New South Wales, conducted intensive inquiries before arresting the man at a Dubbo home.

Public assistance

The district's Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Denise Godden, said an arrest would not have been possible without assistance from the public.

"We had a lot of interest from the public in relation to that video. Once it went up, it literally went viral," Inspector Godden said.

"As a result a lot of calls were made to Crimestoppers identifying the [alleged] persons in that video.

"We were able to track down the suspects through the assistance of the public."

Shared on Snapchat

The video had originally been shared on the social media app Snapchat, but it spread to Facebook and was widely distributed by social media users.

Media outlets claimed video was filmed in Walgett, but NSW Police investigations have found the incident likely occurred in Quambone, near Warren in north-west NSW.

Police have not been able to determine if the emu survived.

"We don't know if the emu is alive; we've not been able to find the exact spot where it occurred," Inspector Godden said.

The two bystanders are not expected to be charged over the incident.

The 19-year-old will face Dubbo Local Court on July 22.