This is the astonishing moment a greedy pelican swallows a live dove in front of shocked visitors at a zoo in China.

The incident happened at the Green Rabbit Animal and Plant Theme Park in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province on August 27.

When onlookers raised the alarm, a female keeper grabbed the pelican, skilfully immobilising it from escaping and forcing its beak open before pulling out the snowy white dove already halfway down the pelican's throat.

Staff said they were used to rescuing birds that had been swallowed by the greedy pelican, a repeat offender who ate his feathered friends.

They said that the pelican had been put in quarantine as punishment, but it did not seem to learn the error of its ways and continued to try to eat other birds.

Eyewitness Mr Li, who was one of those who raised the alarm, said he and others had instantly shouted for a keeper, who was quickly on the scene to save the dove, which appeared unharmed after its brush with death.