An endangered wild tiger sparked panic after being seen strolling around a car park in Thailand.

CCTV footage shows the creature walking across the empty concrete lot at Srinakarin dam in Kanchanaburi province on Sunday evening January 22.

When security officers at the dam saw the video, the animal had already gone.

It was still unclear where the tiger came from, but wildlife officers are now searching for it around the area where it was last seen.

Officials have also closed the dame to tourists and staff for their safety amid fears the big cat would attack them.

Salakpra District chief Paitoon Inthabutra said: ‘The forest in the area was connected to Erawan National Park, Khuean Srinakarin National Park and Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary.

'The water along the dam also allowed the tiger to travel long distances. We would help track it down for everyone's safety.'

All roads leading to the dam were ordered closed while checkpoints were built to keep it from reaching villages.

However, local officials still warned residents and tourists to be careful.

Mayor Kitthisit Tummas said: ‘We already formed a team to search for the tiger. We haven't found it yet so please be careful.'

Thailand is home to one of the biggest populations of tigers in Southeast Asia after a conservation program started in 2010.

Globally, tigers are listed as ‘endangered' on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species due to habitat loss.