‘World’s loneliest gorilla’ prepares for another Christmas behind bars: Bua Noi has spent more than three decades inside a cage at Thai supermarket

• Bua Noi, 33, has been trapped inside a dirty cage in a Thai supermarket on her own since the age of one
• An international campaign, which singer Cher supports, has called for her release but her owner is refusing
• He said he will only allow her to go to a sanctuary to be with other gorillas for up to £700,000 

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 stuck at the controversial Pata Zoo in Thailand for more 30 years.

Despite an international campaign to save Bua Noi, the only gorilla in the country, authorities do not seem to have made any steps towards helping it.

The animal’s owner said in October 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 daylight or nature for more than 30 years in Thailand

Jason Baker, PETA Asia’s senior vice president, said: ‘Bua Noi the gorilla is suffering from extreme psychological distress in the concrete enclosure to which she has been confined alone for nearly 40 years, longer than most Thai people have been alive.

‘This shabby facility is internationally condemned as one of the worst zoos in the world.

‘All the animals held captive there are confined to pitifully small, barren enclosures and denied sunshine, fresh air, and opportunities to exercise or engage in behaviour that’s meaningful to them.’

The zoo is on the sixth and seventh floor of the Pata Pinklao Department Store in Bangkok.

Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said Bua Noi should be moved to a sanctuary.

Female gorilla Bua Noi drinks from a milk carton given to her by a keeper to lure her towards visitors

But his his secretary told media: ‘We collected donations from Bua Noi’s supporters. But the problem is that the owner refuses to sell Bua Noi.

‘When he does agree to sell her, the price is too high. Bua Noi is considered private property so we cannot do anything to remove her.

‘The owner bought Bua Noi before laws were introduced to prevent the trade and ownership of endangered animals and wild animals.’

Actress Gillian Anderson wrote to the zoo’s owner, Kanit Sermsirimongkol, in 2020 asking for her to be released.

Named ‘one of the saddest places in the world’ by PETA, in 2020 singer Cher attempted to have Bua Noi released

She then said: ‘In these trying days, we are all experiencing the challenges of seclusion.

‘I can’t help but think about the animals in 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 honestly reflect on what life is like for animals there and to come to the decision to close it.’

She arrived in the grotty cage housed on the seventh floor of a shopping centre when she was just one-year-old

The zoo was named ‘one of the saddest places in the world’ by PETA.

In 2020 singer Cher attempted to have Bua Noi released after expressing her ‘deep concern’ over the gorilla’s fate. 

The singer tweeted: ‘This man is making [money] off suffering of these poor trapped animals.

‘I need to join with animal rights activists and kind people of Bangkok.’

Arriving in the grotty cage when she was just one year old, Bua Noi has been trapped behind its rusty metal bars ever since.

In 2015 her plight came to public attention when animal rights groups handed in a petition calling for her release and for the zoo to be closed down

In 2015 her plight came to public attention when animal rights groups handed in a petition calling for her release and for the zoo to be closed down.

Petition organiser Sinjira Apaitan said at the time: ‘I don’t think animals should be locked up in such unnatural habitats.

‘I hope to help all other animals being held captive in this high-rise zoo as well.’

PETA Senior Vice President Jason Baker said that Bua Noi was being forced to live in ‘horrifying and cruel conditions’

But after being forced to close because of incorrect paperwork, the zoo later reopened and Bua Noi remained caged in her filthy surroundings.

Zoo director Kanit Sermsirimongkol said that Bua Noi’s sad look was her ‘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 treated well.

Bua Noi has been trapped behind its rusty metal bars ever since she arrived as a one-year-old

‘The criticism doesn’t concern me because we know her best.

‘Those people saw the picture of her on the internet and assume she’s depressed.

‘But that’s how she looks just 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 that we will have to find her a suitable new home one day but it’s not a good idea to immediately release her back into the wild without teaching her how to survive on her own.’

Source: Read Full Article