( CNN ) -- It 's normally a story of man versus beast -- but in this case the man is a three-year-old girl , and her wild encounter is thrilling online viewers around the world . The video shows young New Zealander Sofia Walker facing off with a large lion on a viewing platform while visiting the Wellington Zoo with her family last week . Malik the lion had just been given his breakfast when he noticed Sofia pressing up against the viewing glass . The big cat then twitches , glares and growls at the young girl just inches away from her face , before abruptly standing up on its hind legs and violently pawing the separating glass . Giggling , she asks her mother what the lion is trying to tell her . `` I think he 's telling you to move away , Sofia . He wants to eat his food , '' her mother replies . Instead she continues the face-off , only to see Malik again attack the glass . `` He 's massive and you sometimes forget how big he is until you see a picture of him right up next to a small child . He 's a big character , '' Wellington Zoo team leader of carnivores and primates Paul Hatton told the New Zealand Herald . He added that Malik was a `` dark-natured '' lion who was `` quite stroppy . '' Sofia 's father was n't completely sure why the incident took place , but was prepared to offer two explanations . `` Maybe the lion felt threatened that Sofia would try and take his breakfast . Or maybe he preferred to eat her , '' he said . The video is being showcased in online media around the world , including CBS , The Telegraph , the New York Daily News , and The Sydney Morning Herald .
Scene of young New York girl facing off with a large lion called Malik . The big lion glares and growls at the young girl just inches away from her face . Zoo keeper : Malik is a huge and ' dark - natured ' lion who is ' quite stroppy '