This is the shocking moment a caretaker slapped an albino tiger cub in the face to make it pose for pictures in a Thai shopping mall.

Animal handler Yo Yo Thin took a white tiger cub to the exotic pet display at the Seacon Square shopping centre in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 23.

However, despite urging the cub to interact with visitors, the animal would only lie down on the table and ignore him while it was filmed by one of the visitors.

Footage shows Yo Yo Thin holding a T-Rex toy while commanding the cub to stand up before hitting the creature on its face after it refused. The cub eventually stood up and posed for pictures after continuous urging from its caretaker.

Shocked onlooker Mawadee Benjapromporn said: ‘I was astonished. I don’t know much about taking care of tigers, but it doesn’t feel right seeing the young cub be slapped in the face.’

Those who have seen the video condemned the animal handler for his alleged cruel treatment of the cub, but Yo Yo claimed 'he had to do it'.

He said: ‘I had to do it. Not everyone knows the character of a tiger. They’re simply not cats and dogs.

‘Just a Pitbull dog could bite a person dead. If I don’t teach and hit him, he would weigh more than 250kg when he grows up, and what will happen to me?’

The animal handler also asked for understanding, saying that he was just having fun with the cat.

He said: ‘I have a heart for animals. We ask you to understand us, we were just having fun.’

The white tiger cub lives with the popular animal handler, who also owns several other exotic animals at his home on the outskirts of Bangkok. He poses with a green Ferrari on social media.

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are vocal campaigners against the use of monkeys, elephants, tigers, crocodiles and other creatures in the tourism industry.

Senior Vice President Jason Baker has said that animals 'bred in captivity have a high mortality rate' and are 'forced into humiliating shows'.

He said: 'When they are not forced to don doll clothing and perform tricks for the public, they are kept constantly caged.

'PETA calls on the Thai public and tourists visiting the country to avoid all shows, displays, and attractions that involve animals. PETA also hopes the Thai government will enact laws and regulations that prohibit this type of abuse and exploitation.'