Distressing footage shows a majestic tiger unable to move from a podium because of a huge chain around her neck, in order for gawping tourists to take pictures of her.

Now thousands are calling for the animal at Phuket Zoo to be freed, with her treatment branded "cruel and barbaric".

Animal rights activists have urged tourists to avoid "hellhole" attractions to bring an end to the distressing scenes.

An investigation has been launched after the video clip was shared online, alongside claims the tiger was drugged so visitors could take pictures, costing £7.50 each.

A petition calling on the zoo to free the tiger, filmed unable to move off a podium because of a 3ft chain attached to its neck, has attracted more than 10,000 signatures.

Zoo chiefs have reportedly acknowledged that some of the 15 tigers have been chained up, but denied drugging them - and said animals are not treated in a cruel manner.

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But outraged Rob Osy, who set up the petition, wrote: "A tiger is chained in the Phuket Zoo so you can take pictures of him for 300 bath."

One supporter posted: "This is cruel and barbaric at the very least it shouldn’t be chained like this it should be allowed to move freely."

After seeing the clip Elisa Allen, director of animal charity PETA, told Mirror Online: "The misery documented at Phuket Zoo is not unique and is reflective of zoos in general.

"Recent PETA Asia footage from Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo in Thailand shows chained elephants with bleeding wounds, tigers harassed and used as photo props, and primates kept in extremely crowded cages, denied any mental or physical stimulation.

"These hellholes will stay in business as long as people support them with their wallets, which is why PETA encourages everyone, everywhere, to steer clear of any establishment that holds wild animals captive for so-called entertainment."

According to reports in Thailand, inspectors descended on the zoo after the footage emerged over the weekend.

Zoo manager Pichai Sakunsorn said, defended the footage to the Phuket News , stating: “Most of the customers who come here want to take pictures with various animals.

"Those who like to take pictures with animals, mostly do not consider chaining them as cruel, but instead as a safety measure for tourists, especially tigers, because tigers are untrustworthy, unstable, and unpredictable.

“It is a way to prevent the animal from hurting tourists."

But he denied that zoo officials ever drugged animals.

The newspaper further reports that officials who descended on the zoo after seeing the clip found "no evidence" of animal cruelty.

Mirror Online contacted Phuket Zoo on Saturday for comment, but has yet to receive a response.