Animal rights activists in Bahrain have hit out at a Bahraini chef who posted a video of himself on Instagram slaughtering and cooking a peacock, it was reported on Sunday.

Video footage of the incident was uploaded to the chef’s 200,000 social media followers, according to the Gulf Daily News (GDN) website.

“This is not normal behaviour and this is the first time ever I have witnessed such a horrific incident in Bahrain… I am shocked at this and we are all against this. Peacocks are sacred in all regions including Islam,” Mahmood Al Faraj, chairman of the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA), was quoted as saying by GDN.

Al Faraj said he intended to file a complaint about the incident with the Public Prosecution office.

“The peacock is on the list of endangered birds,” added Animal and Environment Protection Charity Organisation president Shaikah Marwa bint Abdulrahman Al Khalifa.

“Hunting peacocks is banned worldwide and it’s the national bird of India. We should respect that, and the sentiments of expats living in Bahrain. We denounce this unlawful act.”