A controversial zoo in China is once again under scrutiny after it was accused of sedating kangaroos so visitors could pet and feed them.

Chilling footage shared earlier this month showed an adult red kangaroo at the Shanghai Wild Animal Park in Pudong, China, lying on its back in the dirt.

The marsupial was barely able to open its eyes as a crowd of tourists knelt around it, grabbed at its paw and took pictures.

Other videos from the park show multiple kangaroos in the enclosure all lying on the ground as tourists including young children interacted with them.

Some viewers online suggested the kangaroos looked as though they had been sedated to keep them docile.