Do you see a problem with the conditions in which the animals at Pata Zoo are kept?
Our rooftop zoo is not a problem. Before opening, we only selected animals that were suitable for a rooftop zoo; we consulted zoologists and veterinarians about which species we could possibly raise under these conditions. They have been treated well. The enclosures are kept clean by our staff. The floor for Bua Noi’s enclosure is concrete because soil in Southeast Asia can absorb bacteria and generate the infection known as soilborne melioidosis, which is fatal to gorillas.
Do you sympathize with the concerns of animal welfare activists who criticize an indoor zoo that keeps primates in isolated confinement?
No, I don’t. Especially people who believe everything they see on the internet and help spread wrong information. We call them lok-suay (blind optimistics); people whose single-mindedness thinks that animals should not be kept in enclosures. They saw the picture of her on the internet and assume she's depressed. The gorilla looks sad because it is how she looks. Just like humans. Some have a sad face. Some are beautiful with a hint of sadness. Some have a happy face. It’s the same with animals, too. People just don't seem to get it. The lok-suay don’t just have problems with us but with other zoos too, no matter how well they treat their animals. It’s these people who started an online campaign to try and destroy us. Government officers came here and checked and found that we take good care of our animals, so the claims have been dismissed.
Is the zoo profitable?
We get by. You know that running a zoo is not the kind of business that gives huge profits every year. We have to admit, the zoo business in Thailand is not in a perfect condition.
What does Bua Noi’s future hold?
We have been taking care of Bua Noi for more than 20 years. We treat her like our own daughter. But, eventually we will have to find her a suitable new home. Bua Noi has been under our care since she was a baby, so immediately releasing her back to the wild is not a proper solution. It takes a lot of hard work to teach an animal how to survive on its own after years living in an enclosure. But it is crucial. Other zoos have done it while monitoring the animal’s well-being in the wild. I strongly hope that we are capable of doing it, and that she can do it too.
