Zoo staff are searching for a visitor who was seen plucking the feathers from a peacock's majestic tail.

A zoogoer was seen when it was close while other visitors stood and watched without intervening.

The incident occurred at the Bird Island Park in Shenyang, in Liaoning, China, and was caught on a phone video by another visitor on May 11.

In the video, a middle-aged man in a pink t-shirt and yellow trainers could be seen approaching a peacock as it faced him and displayed its impressive plumage to another bird as it opened its colourful tail.

He leaned over a wooden railing meant to keep the visitors separate from the animals and smiled as he grabbed one of its beautiful feathers to snap off the tip as a free souvenir.

Other bystanders observed in silence and seemed too busy taking pictures or videos to pay attention.

Zoo authorities said on May 13 that they were aware of the incident and were searching for the man.

Since the peacocks in the park are free-range, no staff witnessed the incident at the time.

The park authorities promised to increase patrols and appealed to visitors to tour the park and protect the animals.