A 20 year old man has been charged following a video of a seal cub allegedly being stabbed.

Police received a report about 9.25pm last night from someone who viewed the concerning video on social media depicting animals being harmed in Kaikoura.

A police spokeswoman said following enquiries today, a 20-year-old man has been charged with cruelty and ill treatment of an animal.

He has been bailed to appear in Blenheim District Court next week.

Enquiries are ongoing to locate one other person in relation to this incident, understood to a man who recorded the disturbing incident.