Visitors to ZSL London Zoo were met with a surprising and shocking display this week as the attraction made a clear statement on animal rights. 

This was due to a crocodile handbag that was placed in one of the displays to warn against the illegal wildlife trade. 

The display was shared on Twitter seeing the Siamese Crocodile, not in its habitat but instead in a crocodile skin handbag.

A plaque warned visitors of illegal trading, reading: "This bag used to be found swimming slow-moving rivers and streams across Southeast Asia and Indonesia.

"Over the last 75 years, more than 80% of Siamese crocodiles have disappeared. 

"Many, like this one, were hunted for their skins as part of the illegal wildlife trade."

However, the display is not new to the Zoo, with the attraction informing HuffPost UK that it has been in place for a few years but has only just gained attention on social media. 

The Twitter user that shared the display told followers that "London zoo not p****g around". 

Whilst others wrote: "That’s the kind of zoo I can get behind! No live caged animals, just the consequences of humans."

And another supporter of the display wrote: "All zoos should have these type of exhibits."

READ MORE: See the Viral TikTok as Queen's Guard screams at tourist

Another user also wrote: "Well done@LondonZoo3 shock and shame might teach a new generation that animal cruelty is neither fashionable or cool!"

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Ben Tapley, curator of reptiles and amphibians at ZSL London Zoo said: "We made this exhibit, within ZSL London Zoo’s Reptile House, to draw visitors’ attention to the devastating impact the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) is having on species around the world.

“At ZSL we are working globally with governments and local communities to protect wildlife, support law enforcement that targets trafficking networks, empower local communities affected by IWT and reduce demand for threatened wildlife.”