A video of two pandas preparing to mate has gone viral – as the male appears to be totally clueless and instead enjoys a tasty snack while the female patiently waits.

In the video, recorded at Copenhagen Zoo, the female panda can be seen on all fours with her back arched as she waits for the mating ritual to begin.

But instead of obliging, the male appears totally oblivious and chomps on a stick of bamboo.

In another clip, he approaches her and gives her a cursory sniff – before leaping away.

In a bid to get the action started, the female later approaches him and presses her backside up against the male.

Again, the male plops down on the ground and continues chowing down on the bamboo.

The footage, which was captured by photographer Frank Rosholt, is from an attempt last month to encourage the two pandas in the zoo to mate.

A spokesperson for the zoo told Jam Press: “The female, Mao Sun, is in heat and ready to mate once a year.

“The male panda, Xing Er, was supposed to mate her but he might be too young still to know what to do.

“When she is not in heat anymore – it only lasts 12-36 hours – the two pandas are separated again as pandas live by themselves most of the time.

“They only meet to mate once a year.”

Copenhagen Zoo posted the video on Instagram (@copenhagenzoo) where it has attracted more than 3,900 likes so far.

The post was captioned: “How is the pandas attempt at natural mating progressing on day two, you ask?”

Viewers were left in stitches by the display.

One person commented: “Maybe you should put them together somewhere without bamboo.”

“It’s like he does not quite understand a hint,” another person said.

Someone else commented: “It is no wonder that they are endangered – and it’s probably not just man’s fault.” [sic]

Another viewer seemed to feel the female’s pain, saying it was “typical”.

Someone else defended the male panda, saying: “He is nervous about whether there is actually consent.”

“Have you considered removing the food so that it does not become so distracted?” another person advised.

One person joked: “The way to the male heart still goes through the stomach, apparently.”