Viewers of Sir David Attenborough's new wildlife series Mammals were left shocked at one brutal scene where a predator can be seen eating a bunny's head as they joked 'Happy Easter kids!'.

The first programme was shot completely in the dark and aired on Easter Sunday on at 7pm on the BBC. 

Naturalists spent five years analysing how mammals were coping with changing habitats ahead of the new set of six documentaries.

Social media users took to 'X', formerly known as Twitter, to praise the new episode, which they said was a 'treat' to watch on a Sunday evening.

But some were shocked to see footage of a bunny being torn apart by a coyote on Easter Sunday.

One person said: 'And now it's eating a rabbit's head. Happy Easter folks!'

Another wrote: 'Come on David I'm still eating my tea.' 

'Wily Coyote pocketed the rabbit's foot, for luck,' joked another.  

In the clip, David Attenborough can be heard saying: The coyote's don't like on trash, they are skillful hunters', before the coyote is seen chomping down on the bunny.

The new series tells the story of mammals (including humans) which begins 200 million years ago, at the time of the dinosaurs.

Previewing the show in a interview, executive producer Roger Webb said one of his favourite moments throughout the series is one that has been tarnished by decades of human conflict.

Webb references the fearlessness shown by wolves to be able to occupy the Golan Heights, which is regarded to be a Syrian territory held under Israeli occupation - except by Israel and the United States.

Despite being one of the world's most notorious disputed territories for over 70 years, that does not stop wolves from being found in the area.

Speaking about filming in the area, Roger said: 'The story of the wolf that has adapted to life in minefields in the Golan Heights is a good one.

'What I love about that is the tenacity of the wolf to move into an area that we can no longer go into because, unfortunately, we've messed it up in a very tragic way.

'Behind that story is an incredible human being, Itamar Yairi. He's a real hero. It's people like Itamar who opened the door for us to these incredible stories and allow us to then document them and put them on screen.' 

He is referencing the work of a wildlife photographer, who closely observed the Golan wolves for nearly two years, and managed to capture some extraordinary images along the way.