This bizarre video shows a man handing a cigarette to a seagull at a dock before the bird takes it in its beak and flies away.

Smartphone footage recorded on Dianchi Lake, located in the city of Kunming, in China’s south-western Yunnan Province, shows the man holding a cigarette and offering it to the bird on 26th December.

Puzzled over the odd gift, the seagull can then be seen taking the cigarette before turning around and flying away in the direction of the lake.

After the video reached social media platforms, officials from the Natural Resources Bureau responded that seagulls are protected animals and that such acts are prohibited.

They stated they are investigating the matter, and added: “Such provocative behaviour is not allowed.

“This is an act that harms wild animals and is also uncivilised and is not allowed. In the future, we must increase the protection.”

Meanwhile, netizens did not hold back from criticism after the video reached China’s version of TikTok, Douyin, the same day.

Douyin user ‘Li is married’ said: “Has the United Nations been notified of such a big matter?”

Then ‘Wild Child Mao Hui’ said: “He should be fined by making him sweep seagull poop for a month!”

And ‘Circle R’ commented: “Instigating animals to smoke should be heavily punished!”

The footage was liked more than 1220 times, and shared another 2568 as of Thursday, 28th December.