Shocking footage shows the moment beachgoers pelt stones at a baby seal after the curious animal approaches them in Kazakhstan.
The brutal incident was filmed in the city of Aktau, located on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea, and shared to social media yesterday.
In the video a playful grey seal pup can be seen swimming near one of the city's beaches, coming close to the shore before being showered with boulders and stones.
An unnamed local resident captured the video of the perpetrators, believed to be tourists, laughing as they thoughtlessly aimed rocks at the pup.
Kazakh model Yevgeniya Mukasheva then shared the video to her followers with the caption: 'If an animal comes close to you, it means it trusts you.
'How could you throw stones at the defenceless pup and laugh? Have you lost your mind?!'
Commenting on the incident, Kazakh authorities expressed their disapproval and urged everyone to show respect to the environment.
Saken Dildakhmet, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources told: 'The way people acted in the video is outrageous and wild.
'Such an attitude can cause a great damage to the fauna of the Caspian Sea and adversely affect the behaviour of these animals who may become aggressive and attack people.
'We ask you to show respect to nature.'
The seals are curious animals and they often approach people, say the environment authorities.
Mr Dildakhmet added: 'The seal in the clip is young and playful. The seals are mostly very friendly and curious marine mammals. We should admire them.'
Reports of the animals biting swimmers in the same Mangistau region in June could have sparked the violent reaction from the people in the video, reports NURKZ.
Several children and an adult were reportedly taken to hospital for a rabies shot after being bitten by the seals in the incidents last month.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
