This is the moment restaurant staff beat up a camel after it falls on a guest who apparently tried to mount it.

Footage from the business in Amatitan, Jalisco State, shows the person kicking their feet as they lie on the ground under the weight of the dromedary’s body.

Others then run over and two men hold the camel while a woman in a cowboy hat mercilessly thrashes the animal with a stick – including on its head and neck.

After the clip did the rounds online, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) filed a criminal complaint with the Attorney General’s Office.

It accused the people seen in the footage of crimes against biodiversity and animal abuse.

Local media reported that the camel was left with an injured neck after the incident on 30th April.

Profepa inspected the restaurant – named Los Camellos Agaves – and found a brown capuchin (Cebus apella) and two dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) on site.

The restaurant is reportedly popular in the area, with visitors able to ride the camels it keeps.

Profepa noted the lack of security guarantees for clients of the restaurant and confirmed that the animals were not being properly cared for.

It also noted the absence of legal documentation for the animals, which were seized.

It is not clear if the people seen in the clip were charged.