North America’s oldest private zoo has been forced to close its doors after animal abuse allegations against its owner led to a dramatic drop in attendance at the Ontario attraction.

Bowmanville Zoo director Michael Hackenberger stepped down from his position earlier this year after secretly filmed footage by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) showed him relentlessly whipping a Siberian tiger during a training session.

Hackenberger first received criticism in August last year when he swore at a monkey riding a small horse on live television. Then the zoo owner was recorded on hidden camera in December 2015 cracking a whip around 19 times on the tiger, later claiming in the footage for the actions to be “like a vice”.

“Maybe I viciously whipped the ground. Maybe I viciously whipped the air, but I did not viciously whip that tiger,” said Hackenberger in his defence. “I didn’t strike the tiger except twice to get him turned around.”

In June, the zoo announced it would be closing its doors for good because attendance had declined "catastrophically" following the controversy.

The zoo, which first opened in 1919, officially closed its doors on 10 October – Canadian thanksgiving – offering free admission to visitors with an option on entry to make a donation towards the rehoming and continued care of its animals.

“As we as a zoo gather at the table of Thanksgiving on our final day of operation, the thing we are most thankful for are our loyal supporters and followers who have stood with us through thick and thin,” read a statement posted on the zoo’s Facebook page.

“The decision was only made when it became apparent, financially, that we couldn’t continue,” added Angus Carroll, director of communications at the zoo.

Hackenberger was charged by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with five counts of animal abuse in April 2016. The allegations are yet to be proven in court.