This is the adorable moment a loving beluga whale kissed a toddler who was crouching by the poolside.

The playful sea creature gently approached the boy for a kiss in Yingkou, China, on December 9.

Footage shows the child sitting next to the white whale's enclosure while his mother holds him.

After the animal touched the child's face with its mouth, it remained still in front of them while the zookeeper instructed the boy to give the beluga a fish, which he then placed in its mouth.

The encounter left zoo visitors in awe and amusement.

Beluga sturgeons are found in the Caspian and Black seas. The lack of melanin in albino sturgeons affects only a few members of the species, leaving very few in the wild.

Beluga whales are known for being friendly and curious and are generally safe for humans to encounter. They are playful and often engage in a variety of social activities, including mouth-to-mouth interactions.