A recently opened 'mini zoo' in Thailand has closed down due to visitors allegedly mistreating its animals.

The Osauce Mini Zoo in Nakhon Ratchasima province had only been open for a week before announcing its closure on June 13.

The owner Pinitsak Julworawong, 29, said he had seen parents and rowdy children feeding hazardous food or 'bullying' the animals, prompting him to close the facility to the public.

Speaking to local media, the animal lover said: 'We are grateful to the visitors who showed understanding and appreciation for the animals.

'However, in consideration of the happiness of the animals and their quality of life, and because we love them like our own children, the zoo has made the difficult decision to close permanently.

'The intolerable instances of animal bullying are not aligned with the zoo's original objective since its opening.'

The Osauce Zoo, which doubles as an animal shelter, houses dozens of rare animals, including white lions, caracals, servals, miniature horses, and ostriches.

Pinitsak had bought the one-acre plot of land last year to provide homes for wild animals which he legally bred and raised for sale.

He said the creatures were properly fed and cared for. There were no labels on the cages and enclosures because the occupants changed regularly, he said.

Due to insistent demand from local schools, he opened the property as a field trip destination completely free of charge.

Just a week after opening, the mini zoo had already attracted some 30,000 visitors.

Pinitsak said: 'I was not driven by profit. I did not even place any donation boxes at the zoo. I just wanted the children to learn.

'But in the past few days, I noticed many unsupervised kids engaging in harmful behaviour towards the animals. They were ripping the fur or wool off the animals, throwing choking sticky rice into the turtle enclosure, and feeding the carnivorous animals with vegetables. It was unacceptable and I was deeply saddened.'

Pinitsak urged parents to rein in their kids and teach them about following the rules to keep other zoos from also closing.

Today, he has decided to only allow visitors to the Osauce Zoo on a case-by-case basis.