Thailand’s only gorilla, a female named ‘Bua Noi’ or Little Lotus, is set to spend another Christmas trapped in a grim, concrete cage at Pata Zoo in the capital Bangkok. Bua Noi, considered the “world’s loneliest gorilla”, has been captive at the zoo since 1988. GuardianWhich is built on the sixth and seventh floors of a deserted shopping mall. Despite a global outcry, including efforts by A-list celebrities like Cher and Gillian Anderson, the gorillas remain captive in what has been described as the most tragic place on Earth.
Gorillas, native to Africa, are widely considered to be social animals. They usually live in family groups but Bua Noi has had to endure a life of solitude with animals such as orangutans, birds, baboons, flamingos and sheep captive in other enclosures. With only a week left until Christmas, it seems certain that Bua Noi, who was brought to the Southeast Asian country from Germany at the age of three, will remain in captivity.
Notably, Pata Zoo was opened in 1983 by Vinay Sermasirimongkol, a businessman who owned the seven-story-tall Pata Pinklao department store. Because the average lifespan of an eastern gorilla is more than 40 years, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), experts fear she may die in her cage before being released into the wild.
The zoo’s current owner, Kanit Sermasirimongkol, has rejected claims that Bua Noi and other animals were treated poorly. After reports emerged that Mr Sermasirimongkol’s family was demanding Rs 74 million to release the animal, the zoo issued a statement.
The company said in a Facebook post a few years ago, “As of today, the zoo’s legally authorized officials would like to confirm that they have never negotiated with anyone or any agency to buy or sell Bua Noi Is.”
“Department store officials rejected the plan to relocate the gorillas as previously requested by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. They were not sure how Bua Noi, who had become used to the absence of natural pathogens, would adapt to a new environment. “Can be accommodated in.”
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Internet reacts
Bua Noi’s situation has attracted considerable attention on social media, with users expressing their sadness and frustration at his continued imprisonment.
One user said, “This really sucks. If Hell is real, there’s a place for people who treat this poor animal like this,” while another said: “Can someone tell me? Why are zoos good? I don’t like going to them just to see all the animals being sad.”
A third commented: “It’s incredibly sad what human greed can lead to. Hopefully Bua Noi will be free someday.”
Bua Noi’s plight highlights broader issues related to animal rights and the ethics of isolating social creatures for entertainment.
