These pictures show the moment a young Irish boy had the fright of his life when a tiger pounced for him at Dublin Zoo.
Sean Costello, 7, was posing for a picture in front of the tiger enclosure.
He looks over his left shoulder at a tiger stood on a hill about ten metres behind him.
Sean returns his gaze to the camera with a twinkle in his eye.
Suddenly the tiger, which had been slowly stalking towards him until this point, lurches forward.
The apex predator sprints at the child, raising its huge paws and mouth in anticipation of a meal.
Fortunately for young Sean, the strong sheet of glass holds.
As the child lurches away the big cat paws at the barrier in a frustrated manner.
Less than a day after it was posted by Sean's dad Rob on Twitter it has received close to 400,000 views.
Rob Costello posted the shocking scene with the caption: “My son was on the menu in Dublin Zoo today #raar.”
Speaking to RTE Radio One on Monday, Rob said: “We were in the zoo yesterday, we’re regular visitors.
“We were down by the tigers and as we approached, I saw the tiger’s stance changed. Sean went and sat down.
“I saw the stance of the tiger changed.
“I twigged something was about to happen and the tiger then ran down the hill and launched itself at the window fairly furiously.
“Sean got a laugh, it didn’t particularly phase him.”
The video led many to comment on the magnificent size of the tiger.
"Wow! you would just have no chance against the tiger," one person wrote.
"Just as well the glass is thick for protection. If I was the zoo keeper I’d be checking that glass that it still comes up to safety standards."
