Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency:  Newsflash

This is the moment a wild moose grows anxious as national park visitors surround it, and it kicks out at a young girl, knocking her to the ground.

The group of tourists came across the moose in the Zyuratkul National Park located in the Russian region of Chelyabinsk Oblast while walking along a trail.

In the footage, the tourists are seen petting the large animal and even giving it food before it kicks out at a young girl and knocks her to the ground.

Zyuratkul National Park spokesperson Marina Fomina said the tourists should not have surrounded the moose and approached it at such close proximity, and they are trying to contact the family involved and the tour operator they used.

Fomina said: “We clearly state everywhere in the park that if a moose lowers its ears it is already in an aggressive mood.

“In general, you cannot approach an animal from all sides and surround it. The woman in front of it, who was filming with her phone, apparently caused the moment of aggression, but it attacked the smallest one.

“The moose attacked a second time because you shouldn’t bend over in front of such animals, but of course, the woman was only protecting her child with her body.”

She added: “Usually, tourists keep a safe distance. Wild animals such as moose and deer should always have a way of escape. Many tourists get too close, the moose felt in danger and so it attacked.

“We will, of course, take action, but we always inform visitors that animals must be treated with respect. Not feeding them properly and surrounding them is very dangerous.

Fomina said: “Shoving your phone in its face is not allowed.”

“It’s a pity that it happened. We will definitely track down the girl and her parents and find out how she feels.”