Watch: Lion attempts to attack child in zoo

A two-year-old boy visiting a zoo in Japan had a very close encounter with an excited lion.

In a video that has gone viral, the King of the Jungle can be seen charging the unsuspecting boy from behind, only to crash head first into the glass, separating him from the child and the rest of the happy zoo-goers.

The big cat slammed head first into the enclosure's screen after lunging at the two-year-old seconds after the youngster turned his back.

The lion, which can run at speeds of up to 50mph, had been locked in a staring contest with the visitor at the zoo.

Watch the video: