Children were reportedly left in tears at the Singapore Zoo on Monday (7 Oct) after they saw a pelican desperately trying to revive its dead friend that had been left floating in their enclosure.

A British expatriate captured the heartbreaking scene on camera and revealed that the sight traumatised his two children and a crowd of other children visiting the zoo.

A video of the incident shows a pelican repeatedly trying to lift the head of a lifeless pelican that was left floating in the water at a pelican display within the zoo. The expat revealed that he reported the distressing incident to a staff member so that more children would not have to witness the devastating scene.

Revealing that the deceased bird was left floating in the enclosure for another ten minutes after he informed the staff, the expat said that the zookeeper who eventually removed the bird from the enclosure did so in front of a crowd of distraught children instead of closing the area off:

“We spotted the bird in the tank around 9.50 am and went and told a member of the zoo staff. A keeper came and took the bird out of the tank ten minutes later in front of a few shocked kids and tourists.”

The zoo visitor told The Sun: “It was quite distressing. You take your children to a zoo to see the wonders of nature and instead, [you] see dead wildlife floating in the displays.”

Watch the video the expatriate took HERE. Viewer discretion is advised.