A bear in Central China's Henan province has bitten off the arm of a nine-year-old boy who tried to feed it through its cage, China Youth Daily reported.

The reports said the attack happened on Saturday afternoon at Pingdingshan Hebin Park, which has a zoo inside. The boy managed to push his arm through the bear’s cage to feed it when the bear bit him.

A doctor at the Pingdingshan Number 152 Hospital, who treated the boy, said he lost his entire right arm, which had to be amputated.

The boy is now receiving treatment at Pingdingshan Number 152 Hospital. [Photo/CFP]

Zoo responsible for man's death	Moving day at the zoo a cagey business