The moment a brave mouse tried to rescue his friend from the jaws of a giant snake by jumping on its head... but failed

When two small white mice are dropped into a snake enclosure at a Chinese zoo, it's sad - but predictable - what will eventually happen.

But what spectators weren't expecting was a surprise counter attack from one of the fury underdogs.

This brave little mouse did everything in its power to try to save its companion after it was attacked by a hungry green snake.

Dinner: The two mice had been dropped into the snake's enclosure at Hangzhou Zoo, Zhejiang Province

It jumped onto the reptile's head as it prepared to devour the litte creature, hopping on and off.

It sniffed and scurried around its rigid friend and continued to jump onto the snake's head.

But sadly his valiant efforts were in vain, as before long the snake, which had just woken from a long hibeation and subsequent fast, had swallowed the little creature whole.

Hungry: But the snake had just awoken from its hibeation and was hungry for its first meal

Rescue: Desperate to save its companion, the little white mouse appeared to be trying to pull the other from the jaws of the snake

Loyal: It continued to scurry around its companion, trying everything in its power to help

Outmatched: Despite the mouse's best efforts, it was no match for the hungry snake who continued to devour its companion

Sadly, for the second mouse, fate was not on its side either. After failing to save its companion, it ran to hide on the far side of the enclosure.

But it did no take long before a second hungry snake awoke and devoured the brave little thing.

Given up: When it became apparent its efforts were in vain, the second mouse scurried off to the far coer leaving its companion to be consumed by the snake

The bizarre mouse behaviour was captured at Hangzhou Zoo, in China's Zhejiang Province

Tragic: Sadly for the second mouse, it didn't take long before another snake awoke and then devoured it

The remarkable, but tragic, feeding encounter was witnessed at Hangzhou Zoo, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

The snakes had just woken from a long hibeation and the little mice were their first meals.