‘World’s loneliest gorilla’ Bua Noi prepares for another Christmas behind bars at Thai supermarket
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An animal that has been called the ‘world’s loneliest gorilla’ is set to spend another Christmas in a supermarket cage.
The 33-year-old gorilla has been trapped at the controversial Pata Zoo in Thailand for more than 30 years.
Despite an international campaign to save Bua Noi, the country’s only gorilla, the authorities appear to have taken no steps to help him.
The animal’s owner said in October that he will only allow Bua Noi to be released if he is paid up to £700,000.
Thailand’s environment minister had said he wanted 33-year-old Bua Noi moved from a filthy supermarket zoo to a sanctuary.
Bua Noi has lived on concrete floors without natural light or nature for over 30 years in Thailand.
Jason Baker, Senior Vice President of PETA Asia, said: “Bua Noi the gorilla suffers extreme psychological distress in the concrete enclosure where she has been confined alone for nearly 40 years, longer than most Thais have been. been alive”.
‘This dilapidated facility is internationally condemned as one of the worst zoos in the world.
“All of the captive animals there are confined to pitifully small and sterile enclosures and denied sunlight, fresh air, and opportunities to exercise or engage in behavior that is meaningful to them.”
The zoo is on the sixth and seventh floors of the Pata Pinklao department store in Bangkok.
Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said Bua Noi should be moved to a sanctuary.
Bua Noi the gorilla drinks from a carton of milk given to her by a keeper to attract her to visitors.
But his secretary told the media: ‘We collect donations from Bua Noi’s supporters. But the problem is that the owner refuses to sell Bua Noi.
When he agrees to sell it, the price is too high. Bua Noi is considered private property so there is nothing we can do to remove it.
“The owner bought Bua Noi before laws were introduced to prevent the trade in and ownership of wild and endangered animals.”
Actress Gillian Anderson wrote to the zoo owner, Kanit Sermsirimongkol, in 2020 asking him to release her.
Named ‘one of the saddest places on earth’ by PETA, in 2020 singer Cher tried to free Bua Noi
He then said: ‘In these difficult days, we are all experiencing the challenges of confinement.
“I can’t help but think of the animals at the Pata Zoo, who have experienced the same loneliness and isolation for years or decades.
“In light of the recent fire that broke out at the zoo, I am writing to ask you to reflect honestly on what life is like for the animals there and to make the decision to close the zoo.”
He arrived at the seedy cage located on the seventh floor of a shopping center when he was only one year old.
The zoo was named ‘one of the saddest places in the world’ by PETA.
In 2020, singer Cher attempted to free Bua Noi after expressing her “deep concern” over the gorilla’s fate.
The singer tweeted: “This man is doing [money] of the suffering of these poor trapped animals.
“I need to join the animal rights activists and the kind people of Bangkok.”
Bua Noi, who arrived in the hideous cage when she was just one year old, has been trapped behind its rusty metal bars ever since.
In 2015, his situation came to light when animal rights groups filed a petition calling for his release and the zoo’s closure.
In 2015, his plight came to light when animal rights groups filed a petition calling for his release and the zoo’s closure.
Petition organizer Sinjira Apaitan said at the time: “I don’t think animals should be kept in such unnatural habitats.”
“I hope to help all the other animals that are held captive in this high-altitude zoo as well.”
PETA Senior Vice President Jason Baker said Bua Noi was being forced to live in “horrifying and cruel conditions.”
But after being forced to close due to incorrect paperwork, the zoo reopened, and Bua Noi remained caged in her dirty surroundings.
Zoo director Kanit Sermsirimongkol said Bua Noi’s sad look was his “natural facial expression.”
He added: ‘Before opening, we consulted zoologists and veterinarians and only selected animals that were suitable for the zoo. And they have been well treated.
Bua Noi has been trapped behind her rusty metal bars since she arrived when she was one year old.
‘Criticism doesn’t worry me because we know it better.
Those people saw the picture of her on the internet and they assume that she is depressed.
“But this is how it looks like humans: some have a sad face and some have a happy face.”
‘We have been taking care of Bua Noi like our own daughter.
“I know we’ll have to find her a suitable new home one day, but it’s not a good idea to immediately release her into the wild without teaching her how to survive on her own.”