A scary video has emerged of a lion pawing the windowpane of its enclosure apparently to catch a toddler standing near by.

The footage, shot at Oregon Zoo, USA in 2016, captures the moment the lion leaps at the young girl who is facing the other way.

Visitors can be heard screaming with surprise as they witness the "attack".

According to the girl's mother, zoo staff members told her her daughter's outfit made her look like a piglet which might have triggered the lion's behaviour.

Upon visiting the zoo my daughters pink bear outfit resembled that of a baby piglet (according to zoo staff). A young lion pounced at my daughter and clawed the glass. many other visitors shouted out of suprise.