News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A zoo in Moscow is suing an advertising company after one of their rented raccoons appeared in a nude video.

Guide Moscow petting zoo has claimed that the using the animal in this way is 'just like bestiality' and has now filed a lawsuit against Art-Msk.

The raccoon was rented to the company in August 2016 to be used in their commericials.

According to Art-Msk , the raccoon would only be required to play in a pile of blankets and towels during the shoot.

(Image: Art-msk/Youtube)

But after the commercial was published online, staff at the zoo realised that the animal had actually been used in a video with a naked woman.

The zoo required the ad company to remove the photos and but allegedly received no response from the advertising company.

In addition to the removal of the offensive media, the zoo would also like the company to compensate the 'moral damage caused to the raccoon' and admit that shooting animals in advertising containing erotic scenes is a violation of animal rights .

(Image: Art-msk/Youtube)

A statement from lawyers acting on behalf of the zoo read: "The plaintiff considers the use of the raccoon unacceptable in the video and the photos of the near-naked woman, as this has a negative impact on people's perception of this species of animal.

"By using the raccoon with the near-naked woman, the defendant inflicted harm on the raccoon population.

(Image: Getty)

"Now everyone who watched this video or saw the photo will associate raccoons with eroticism."

A zoo spokesman told Channel Five Russia that after shooting the video, the raccoon, named Thomas, was in a state of shock and fearful of camcorders.