This is the bizarre moment a zoo lets a goose terrify a poor tiger cub to entertain visitors.

Chinese zookeepers, who provided chickens and ducks for a tiger cub to play with, were surprised when they introduced a goose that chased the terrified cub around the cage.

The tiger cub, nicknamed 'Milk Bean', was raised by hand after being abandoned by its mother. To ensure it did not get bored, authorities allowed it to play with ducks, geese, and rabbits at a zoo in Linfen, Shanxi province, China.

But when it encountered the goose, the tiger cub met its match. As the goose hissed and opened its wings, the cub cowered in the corner while being transported to the cage.

Later, after the goose was placed in the tiger cub's enclosure, it continued to terrify the baby tiger by hissing and flapping its wings.

This happened in front of fascinated visitors, who watched the goose torment the poor tiger cub and filmed the event.

Zoo officials said that the viral video was actually filmed in January last year but was shared online after criticism that the tiger had a goose in its cage and appeared to be torturing the poor bird.

A zoo spokesman said that the tiger and goose had been friends for a long time and that the goose had been mean to the tiger when it was a cub. The tiger liked reminding the goose who was boss.

But, they added, the pair were good friends.