The man who raised concerns over an horrific video showing a seal cub being stabbed says he’s relieved police have made an arrest.

Police received a complaint on Wednesday about a video circulating on social media app Snapchat depicting animals being harmed in Kaikoura.

The complaint said “I saw a man with a large knife stand on a seal that had a obvious gash.”

“He then proceeded to hold the seal down and stab the animal multiple times and laughing all the while he was filming himself and being filmed by another onlooker.”

A police spokeswoman said a 20-year-old man had 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.