This is the moment a man walks along a city street with a lion on his shoulder, prompting a police investigation and the arrest of three men.

The police investigation was carried out after images of the incident were widely circulated on social media.

In the footage, a man is seen walking along a pavement in the town of Ain Sokhna in the Egyptian governorate of Suez with a large lion cub over his shoulder.

He appears to be in the company of at least one other man.

The Ministry of the Interior said on Wednesday that the man in the footage is a photographer living in Cairo.

Following a preliminary investigation, the police discovered that the photographer was in possession of a five-month-old lion cub without a licence to keep it.

According to local media, the photographer works at a popular resort where he charges tourists money to pose with the lion.

The police reportedly arrested the suspect and two other men in connection with the unlicenced big cat.

He was detained by forces of the Suez Security Directorate and is expected to face charges.