Pata Zoo - สวนสัตว์พาต้า

Located along the hectic Borommaratchachonnani Road in the concrete jungle of Bangkok lies the old Pata Pinklao Department Store also known as King Kong Mall. The main part of the mall closed years ago, but the roof is still inhabited by the gorilla Bua Noi and the orangutan Kat as well as a few turtles and a selection of tropical birds. 

The zoo has been operating since the early '80s. In 2015, Thai authorities charged it with breaking several laws and ordered the removal of all large animals. However, the zoo refused, and its owner, Vinai Sermsirimongkol, ensured that Bua Noi’s concrete surroundings were designed to resemble her natural habitat. To keep the large gorilla occupied, the zoo installed a television mainly showing Thai drama series. “Want to send her back to nature? We should think about the animals’ quality of life in the jungle. They are at risk from diseases such as AIDS and Ebola, as well as civil wars and poachers” Vinai Sermsirimongkol.

As of January 2023, Bua Noi and its fellow inmates were still in captivity at the zoo.