'World's saddest gorilla' has lived in captivity above a shopping mall for 32 years; owner refuses to free her - Times Now

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Animal advocates are trying their best to free Bua Noi, the 'world’s saddest gorilla', from a zoo where the owners are refusing to release her unless they get paid a large sum of money

The primate has been locked in the zoo located above a shopping mall in Thailand since she was one. According to reports, the bosses had originally agreed to sell Bua for £7,00,000 before appearing to change their mind.

Bua lives in a small and filthy enclosure with rusty metal bars located on the top floor of a rundown department store. For decades now, campaigners and animal activists in Thailand have tried to free the primate from captivity. Sadly, they have failed once again recently as the zoo owner refused to sell her for less than $7,80,000.

Bua Noi, whose name means ‘Little Lotus’, arrived at Thailand's Pata shopping mall from Germany in 1990 when she was just one year old. Since 2015, bosses of the Pata shopping mall have defied pleas to release Bua from the Thai government animal rights group PETA and even pop singer Cher. The activists want the animal to be transferred to a sanctuary in Germany with other gorillas.

Reports have said that the owner of the zoo told the Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Varawut Silpa-archa that she would release Bua for a sum of $782,000 US dollars (30 million Thai baht).

Thanetpol Thanaboonyawat, secretary to the minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said the ministry has been organising fund-raising events but hasn't been able to collect enough money to pay the zoo owners.

"We have held activities in the past campaigning for Bua Noi's release and to raise funds. 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," said Thanetpol Thanaboonyawat.

As Bua Noi is considered private property, not much can be done to remove her, Thanaboonyawat explained.

In 2015, officials of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation closed down the rundown zoo due to a lack of correct paperwork. But it eventually reopened with Bua in their cage.

PETA Asia Senior Vice President Jason Baker said Bua's living conditions are 'horrifying and cruel' He urged the activists to keep their pressure on Pata Zoo and to 'demand that it let PETA help retire these animals to reputable sanctuaries that would meet their physical and mental needs'.

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'World's saddest gorilla' has lived in captivity above a shopping mall for 32 years; owner refuses to free her - Times Now
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