WATCH: Adorable panda plays with giant SNOWMAN built by zookeepers in heart-melting video
A GIANT panda has been melting hearts after he was caught on camera enjoying an early Christmas present - a giant snowman.
Giant panda befriends snowman at Toronto Zoo
Staff at Toronto Zoo decided to make the most of a heavy snowfall by creating the snowman in the enclosure of the panda, called Da Mao.
The gentle giant, who arrived in Canada from Chengdu, China, in March 2013, has become an internet sensation after his escapades with the snowman were broadcast around the world via the zoo's "panda cam".
Da Mao, who is eight, can be seen repeatedly patting his new friend the snowman before attempting to climb on top of it.
However, when the snowman's head rolls off, so does Da Mao.
The giant panda was caught playing in the snow at Toronto Zoo
Unperturbed, the panda once again tries to clamber on the snowman - at one point becoming stranded with his legs and front paws flailing helplessly before tumbling off, head first.
The video clip, which is just under three minutes long, has also been uploaded to YouTube where it has been viewed more than 47,000 times since Tuesday.
The pandas have been a big hit at the zoo since they arrived from China in March
Da Mao and his companion Er Shun, a female panda, have become a big hit with visitors to the zoo with many tuning in to the panda cam on a daily basis to follow their antics.
The two are not the only giant pandas at the zoo.
The snowman was the bear's Christmas present from zookeepers
Panda cubs make public debut in China ahead of National Day
Er Shun gave birth to twin panda cubs Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue last year.
Zookeepers created the snowman as part of an enrichment programme aimed at stimulating the pandas who have a number of items to play with including slides.