This is the amusing moment a zookeeper and a bear cub had a playful tussle at a zoo in China.

Zookeeper Ms Cai was inside the bear's enclosure to celebrate its first birthday when the two engaged in a light-hearted scuffle at Wuhan Wildlife Kingdom in Hubei on January 4.

Footage shows the adorable cub attempting to nibble on the woman, prompting her to push its head away.

Ms Cai said: 'We were holding a first-year birthday party for the cub. After we finished eating the cake, we interacted with it as usual, playing and bonding, and that scene happened.'

Play is an essential part of a cub's development, helping them recognise kin, assess risks, and cope with stress. It also offers a safe environment for testing their abilities and those of their playmates.