Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

Video Credit: CEN/@angel.valenzuela.3990

This is the moment a cockerel about to participate in a fight turns on its owner and chases him out of the fighting ring in footage that has gone viral with over 4.5 million views.

The incident took place in Culiacan, in the western Mexican state of Sinaloa, and was recorded by an onlooker.

In the video, two cockerels can be seen waiting in the middle of the ring when their owners release them to start the fight.

Picture Credits: CEN

But one of the cockerels then turns on its owner and begins chasing him.

The owner runs away in panic, but the cockerel keeps chasing him so the man jumps out of the ring.

The cockerel then chases the man into the stands as the spectators hysterically laugh before an onlooker then grabs the bird.

Cockfighting is legally practised in most of Mexico, with the state of Veracruz becoming the first state to make the practice illegal in November 2018.

The video has gone viral with over 4.5 million views with many netizens taking the cockerel’s side.

User ‘Mixteco Cuapinche’ added: “I wish they had been stabbed for being idiots, the poor animals are forced to fight.”

And ‘Edgar Otrebla Figueroa Ceja’ commented: “The worst thing is to turn your back on a cock wearing metal spurs and even more if it is angry, it is better to fight a bull. It is also better to avoid a cock than turn your back on it and increase the danger of being cut.”